Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience Research Symposium
Keynote Speaker at the 16th Annual Research Symposium of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
Dr. Gulbransen will speak about:
Enteric Glia as Signal Conditioners in Gut Neural Networks
Friday, November 20 at 4:30-5:30 pm
Pennington Health Sciences Building
Auditorium 103
Dr. Brian Gulbransen is the new Chair of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at UNR Med. He completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus in 2007. He trained as a postdoc at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary and then became Research Foundation Professor at Michigan State University.
Dr. Gulbransen’s current research focuses on investigating the role of enteric glial cells – a major part of the complex neural network embedded in the gut wall called the enteric nervous system. He has made major contributions to a better understanding of the role of the enteric nervous system in health and disease.
We are honored to have Dr. Gulbransen present the keynote lecture at the 16th Annual Research Symposium of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
Symposium agenda
- 12:30–1:00 p.m.: Posters in the Atrium
- 1:00–1:30 p.m.: Jennifer Hoy, PhD and Ting Feng, PhD (Biology, UNR)
- Superior Colliculus Development and the Emergence of Healthy Oculomotor Control
- 1:30–2:00 p.m.: Paul MacNeilage, PhD (Psychology, UNR)
- Perceiving a Stationary World during Head Turns
- 2:00–2:30 p.m.: Floris van Breugel, PhD (Mechanical Engineering, UNR)
- Olfactory Navigation across Flow Conditions
- 2:30-3:15 p.m.: Posters & Refreshments
- 3:15–3:30 p.m.: Amy Altick, PhD (Treasurer/Secretary of the SNC-SfN, Biology, UNR) and Arianna Thoksakis (former President of Neuroscience Outreach)
- Business Meeting and State of our Chapter
- 3:30–4:00 p.m.: Alireza Tavakkoli, PhD (Computer Science and Engineering, UNR)
- Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology
- 4:00–4:30 p.m.: Rajesh Rangaswamy, MD (Reno Radiological Associates, Renown, UNR Med)
- Updates in Neurointerventional Radiology
- 4:30–5:30 p.m.: Keynote Speaker: Brian Gulbransen, PhD (Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology, UNR Med)
- Enteric Glia as Signal Conditioners in Gut Neural Networks
Symposium sponsored by a generous donation from the Budhecha Family Trust
Mission Statement
The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SNC-SfN) was formed in 2008 by neuroscientists in Nevada. Our interest is to advance the understanding of the nervous system and to promote education in the neurosciences. Neuroscientists in Nevada have diverse backgrounds ranging from molecular biology to behavior to clinical specialties. This chapter brings them together by hosting local meetings, facilitating attendance at the annual international Society for Neuroscience meeting, and organizing local educational public outreach activities. Membership is open to all neuroscientists and those with an interest in neuroscience residing in Nevada and in the geographical region of the Sierra Nevada. The chapter is an educational, non-profit organization that is supported by membership dues and local sponsors. It is formally chartered by the Society for Neuroscience. The Sierra Nevada Chapter does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation, in any of its activities or operations.
With the rapid expansion of neuroscience at the 91ԭƬ in the last decade, our chapter's focus is now primarily on educational outreach, such as brain awareness week, supporting schools' science fair or brain bee projects, and helping to foster interest in and communicate the diverse neuroscience activities at the 91ԭƬ to a wider audience.
Our chapter’s website will be transitioning to the 91ԭƬ's Institute of Neuroscience (/neuroscience).
How to join
Send an email to Dr. Amy Altick (alaltick@unr.edu) to be added to our mailing list. Dr. Altick is the Secretary/Treasurer of the SNCSfN.
If you want to present a poster at the Annual Symposium on November 20, 2026:
Send an email to Dr. Christopher von Bartheld (cvonbartheld@med.unr.edu) with the title and a list of all authors. Dr. von Bartheld is the Founder and current President of the SNCSfN.