OHSU Brain Institute

02/27/2026

Congratulations to Elias Wisdom, an Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) M.D.-Ph.D. candidate, who has been selected for the AAIC Neuroscience Next "One to Watch" Award by the Alzheimer's Association!

⭐ One to Watch: Elias Wisdom, an Oregon Health & Science University M.D.-Ph.D. candidate has been selected for the AAIC Neuroscience Next "One to Watch" Award. This award recognizes rising leaders who are redefining neuroscience through trailblazing scientific thinking, collaboration, communication, and outreach.

Wisdom is pioneering novel protein proximity labeling and advanced mass spectrometry to decode protein interactions in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsons's disease, and Lewy body dementia. A La Grande native, former college baseball All-American, and current Ironman triathlete, Wisdom often credits long training runs for sparking research ideas.

He also attended the recent Oregon State Advocacy day and raised his voice to keep Alzheimer's and other dementias a priority with legislators.

Please join us in congratulating Elias's leadership in science and advocacy. 💜 🔬 👏

02/14/2026

A federally funded research initiative will enable researchers at OHSU and other organizations to assess the safety and effectiveness of state-regulated access to psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.

"There is an urgent need to assess the safety of these programs and their impact on substance use before more voters and policymakers are asked to consider their merits and drawbacks.," said Dr. Adie Rae, a scientist at the Legacy Research Institute in Portland and co-director of the Oregon Psychedelic Evaluation Nexis (OPEN).

Five-year, $3.3 million award is first to study the effect of psychedelic services in community settings.

02/13/2026

OHSU scientists are developing an eye drop specially designed to detect the fluorescent signal of a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Combined with the use of a noninvasive scanner, the research project could result in a low-cost, widely accessible screening tool to catch the earliest stage of the disease.

OHSU biomedical engineer and imaging scientist awarded federal funding for high-risk, high-reward project.

02/11/2026

Two OHSU faculty members have been awarded $750,000 grants through the OHSU Faculty Excellence and Innovation Awards, which honor exceptionally creative research with the potential to significantly advance human health.

OHSU Faculty Excellence and Innovation Awards support research to advance human health.

01/28/2026

Launched in 2017, the Oregon ECHO Network (OEN) is a statewide initiative that supports ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) programming determined by a collaborative group of community partners and participants.

Hosted at OHSU’s Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN), Project ECHO allows primary care clinicians and their teams to access the knowledge and tools to manage health conditions that they typically refer to specialty care.

The benefits of this approach include improved patient satisfaction, reduced medical errors and unneeded specialty referrals, and overall improved patient health for all Oregonians.

Find out more about the Oregon ECHO Network’s slate of new programs for spring on their website: https://www.oregonechonetwork.org/programs.

01/22/2026

In a new study, OHSU researchers mapped exactly where harmful antibodies latch onto NMDA receptors, proteins on brain cells that play a role in memory, learning and cognitive function.

The research relied on one of only three national cryo-electron microscopy centers in the country, located at OHSU’s South Waterfront campus. https://www.oregonlive.com/health/2026/01/ohsu-researchers-identify-key-trigger-behind-brain-disorder-often-mistaken-for-mental-illness.htmlace

01/15/2026

In the study published today, OHSU researchers identified specific sites on the NMDA receptor in the brain that, if they could be blocked, may potentially reverse the progression of the rare disorder anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

The condition affects about one in 1 million people annually, predominantly people in their 20s and 30s, best known by the bestselling autobiography and 2016 motion picture, “Brain on Fire.”

Scientists hope this discovery shows a promising target for treatment for this devastating autoimmune disease affecting the brain.

OHSU researchers use near-atomic imaging to find promising target for ‘Brain on Fire’ condition.

12/30/2025

A new systematic evidence review finds that cannabis products that carry relatively high levels of THC may provide short-term improvements in pain and function.

However, the review also found THC-based products led to an increased risk of common adverse symptoms like dizziness, sedation and nausea.

Research review also finds products higher in CBD than THC have almost no benefit in reducing pain.

12/27/2025

OHSU researchers warn that exposure to air pollution may have serious implications for a child’s developing brain.

In a recent study, OHSU’s Developmental Brain Imaging Lab found that air pollution is associated with structural changes in the adolescent brain, specifically in the frontal and temporal regions — the areas responsible for executive function, language, mood regulation and socioemotional processing.

Researchers warn these structural changes could impact children's health, well-being; environmental, public health policy will be critical to protecting brain health, they say.

12/23/2025

“Patients with brain cancer are often left feeling frustrated trying to understand their tumor’s progression and what the right treatment is."

"Now with a new path forward, we hope patients are provided some hope and comfort in this extremely difficult moment." - Dr. Ramon Barajas, Jr., professor of diagnostic radiology in the OHSU School of Medicine.

Researchers with OHSU’s Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program supported several clinical trials investigating a novel use of a drug for brain cancer imaging.

OHSU lab started exploring new use of the drug 30 years ago; now, it may improve techniques to measure, monitor aggressive brain tumors.

12/19/2025

More than 800 people in Oregon have joined ACTNOW! Subscribe to stay informed about new Alzheimer’s and brain health studies enrolling this winter.

Sign up now at the link below or email actnow@ohsu.edu. https://bit.ly/3YJVXts

12/17/2025

According to new research by OHSU and the VA Portland Health Care System, the over-the-counter supplement lipoic acid may have a small beneficial effect in slowing the loss of gray matter in the brains of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

"The slowing of brain atrophy that we saw in MRI images suggests that we may yet be on the right track, especially if we can find a better way to deliver the beneficial effects of an antioxidant like lipoic acid," said Dr. Rebecca Spain, lead author on the study.

OHSU-led randomized controlled trial examines benefits of over-the-counter antioxidant.