UT Southwestern Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

03/09/2026

Attila Losonczy, M.D., Ph.D., a pioneer in cellular and circuit neuroscience, is leading our new Program In Memory Longevity that seeks to unlock the science behind memories that last a lifetime. Researchers will investigate how the brain encodes and preserves autobiographical memories tied to personally meaningful experiences. Learn how the research could lead to interventions that preserve or restore memory as we age. https://bit.ly/4u9XSIm

03/06/2026

Joseph Takahashi, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Neuroscience and O'Donnell Brain Institute Investigator, made one of science's most influential discoveries. The "clock gene" has reshaped how we understand circadian rhythms and their role in human health. Today, he is still chasing big questions and reminding young scientists that breakthroughs often come with patience. Learn more about Dr. Takahashi's path to becoming an internationally recognized scientist. https://bit.ly/4cw6LWn

He didn’t plan on becoming a scientist. But Dr. Joseph Takahashi, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at UT Southwestern, went on to discov...

03/03/2026

UT Southwestern researchers analyzed more than 6,300 concussion cases reported by Texas high school athletes as well as participants in activities such as marching band and cheerleading. The study found that fewer concussions were reported in urban and lower-income schools compared to higher-income suburban districts. Learn about the reasons behind the reporting gap and potential solutions.

Fewer concussions were reported among Texas high school athletes and students in urban and lower-income districts than in higher-income suburban districts despite larger enrollments, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found in a study.

02/26/2026

Sleep expert Robert Greene, M.D., Ph.D., appointed Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry

02/19/2026

Patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers are invited to the 2026 Hope After Brain Injury Conference. This year's theme is Creating Balance Between Acceptance, Emotions, and Energy. Experts in brain injury and rehabilitation from the O'Donnell Brain Institute and other institutions will speak on topics such as mental health and caring for the caregiver.
Register now to join us for this free event: https://bit.ly/3MDG9rE

02/17/2026

OBI Investigator, Dr. Chen Liu, and colleagues discovered a crucial developmental process in the hypothalamus that may influence how susceptible someone is to obesity. The finding sheds light on how the brain establishes lifelong metabolic set points. https://bit.ly/3Odpfkm

02/16/2026

A patient misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) struggled for many years with what appeared to be typical PD symptoms. But a visit to UT Southwestern in 2024 led Dick Nash to a specialist team in the O'Donnell Brain Institute who diagnosed him with a rare brain condition.

A team at the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern diagnosed a patient with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare condition caused by excess fluid accumulating in the brain. After treatment, the patient has regained much of the functionality he thought he’d lost forever.

02/12/2026

UT Southwestern will operate the first state acute care behavioral health hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Texas Behavioral Health Center opens this summer with 292 beds expanding access to mental health care for adults and children.

Developed in partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the state-funded facility – the first of its kind in DFW – is slated to open this summer

02/09/2026

Dr. Kathy Niu, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, is co-editor of the new textbook, "Psychiatric Neurology: A Clinical Approach." The text provides practical, up-to-date guidance on the evaluation and diagnosis of neurological disorders and their presentations.

02/03/2026

UT Southwestern epidemiologist, Dr. Wendy Wang, co-led a study that found changes in older adults' daily "rest-activity" patterns could be a clue to risk. Read about what the findings mean for populations underrepresented in previous research. https://bit.ly/4t1LA49

Disruptions in patterns of daily activity and rest may provide early clues to heightened dementia risk, a study co-led by a UT Southwestern Medical Center scientist found.

02/02/2026

Dr. Jenny Riecke, an O'Donnell Brain Institute Clinical Neuroscience Scholar, is expanding the neuropalliative care clinic that she established at UT Southwestern in 2023. The clinic will grow to include services such as chaplaincy and educational opportunities for future neurologists and palliative care professionals. Dr. Riecke started the program to improve the qualilty of life for patients living with progressive diseases such as Parkinson's and dementia.
https://bit.ly/49MKthh

01/29/2026

In a research collaboration that unites experimental and theoretical neuroscience, OBI Investigators, Drs. Todd Roberts and Wenhao Zhang, resolve a long-standing question about how interacting brain regions generate seamless motor behaviors such as speech.
https://bit.ly/4k6i8WJ