Jacob Lafo and Bonnie Scott receive NINDS T32 Fellowship in Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration

Jake and Bonnie

Jacob and Bonnie join doctoral students from neuroscience, genetics, bioengineering and applied physiology-kinesiology as the inaugural predoctoral cohort in a new NINDS funded T32 grant directed by Dawn Bowers, Ph.D. (CHP) and David Vaillancourt, Ph.D. (APK).  Overarching goal is to provide interdisciplinary training for building a cadre of innovative young scientists dedicated to helping people with movement disorders, such as Parkinson disease, Tourettes, essential tremor, ataxia, etc.  Trainees can focus on various approaches including molecular biology and animal models,   translational neuroscience and physiology, or human movement and cognitive neuroscience.   A key training component is increased interaction between basic science and more clinically oriented trainees..  Jacob’s doctoral research involves parsing emotional networks in essential tremor, a highly prevalent movement disorder associated with cerebellar abnormalities.   Bonnie will be examining mechanisms underlying emotional blunting in Parkinson disease.