Joseph Neimat, M.D. (Dr. John Assad and Dr. Emad Eskandar Laboratory @ HMS)
(July 2001 - December 2002)

The focus of research is to elucidate the role that the basal ganglia play in motor decision-making. It is believed that the basal ganglia act to select desired movements from among unwanted movement possibilities. To demonstrate this role, a task has been designed that requires the subject, in this case a macaque monkey, to select a single motor action from a variety of choices. The firing of neurons in the various nuclei of the basal ganglia is then recorded while the monkey is performing his task. Through this research, it is desired to correlate movement selection to distinctive patterns of firing in the basal ganglia.

Khalid Abbed, M.D. (Dr. Ennio Chiocca Laboratory @ MGH)
(July 2002 - June 2004)

Focus of research involves two projects. The first project involves a look at how new neurons may be differentiated from adult bone marrow cells and appears within the spinal cord at the site of injury. The second involves using tumor-selective, oncolytic viruses to treat malignant gliomas

Ziv Williams, M.D. (Dr. Emad Eskandar Laboratory @ MGH)
(January 2003 - December 2004)

Beginning January 2003, Dr. Williams will be investigating neuronal mechanisms in the basal ganglia that underlie planned movement. This work will be done with awake behaving primates and rely on electrode recordings to look at variations in neuronal activity.

Daniel Cahill, M.D. (Dr. David Louis Laboratory @ MGH)
(July 2002 - December 2002)

Involved with microarray gene expression analysis to develop more accurate classification of brain tumors. Using these expression data, we are trying to identify the genetic alterations that drive the formation of different types of brain tumors.