Laboratory Grants
Robust circuit computation in freely behaving animals. This was the first big grant the lab landed, and it launched us. Here, I tried to connect elements of homeostasis, sleep, and "optimal computation", broadly defined. Effectively I wanted to directly address the question of what sleep is actually doing that improves a brain's ability to function --- in all animals, at all ages, in all environments. To do this, we combined theory, molecular biology, physics, computer science, physiology, and behavior. The BRAIN Initiative is an incredible force for forward progress in neuroscience.
2023 - 2025
Understanding the impact of Alzheimer's Disease through the lens of homeostatic set points. CureAlz is a brilliant and powerful organization who recognize "Research is the only path to a cure." They've supported and helped refine our work on Alzheimer's Disease. Systems and computational neuroscience typically have a very small footprint in any study of neurodegeneration, but I would argue that, ultimately, a disease matters precisely because of its impact on systems and computation --- that's exactly why it's a problem (the death of a neuron doesn't mean anything if it doesn't undermine some computation in the brain). Thank you, CureAlz, for your willingness to invest in our complementary vision of disease! Let's stop this thing.
Aberrant neural dynamics in early life warn of future disease. Supporting our investigations into early computational biomarkers of neurodegeneration through neural activity patterns. BrightFocus took a bet on us as we struggled to gain a foothold in the field of neurodegeneration. The program officers, reviewers, and surrounding community have been an enormous resource. BrightFocus relies on small donations from families across the country and reinvests these in diverse projects whose goal is to stop neurodegeneration. To every single donor: thank you!
Homeostatic regulation of activity in circuits underlying anxiety and major depression. Exploring how homeostatic mechanisms contribute to mental health disorders.
Homeostatic Plasticity Mechanisms Support Brain Function In Vivo. This career development award was instrumental in establishing our independent research program.
McDonnell Center
2024 - 2025
Disruptions in the operating system: a theory-driven approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Supporting our computational approach to understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
A comparative framework for modeling the low-dimensional geometry of neural population states. PI: Eva Dyer. Supporting collaborative research in computational approaches to neural population dynamics.
WashU
WashU Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures
Completed
Towards a Synergy Between Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience. Faculty Leads: Keith B. Hengen, Ralf Wessel, Likai Chen. Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration between AI and neuroscience.
Continuous evaluation of network dynamics in P301S/E4 mice. Supporting pilot studies of neural dynamics in Alzheimer's disease models.
The Dynamics of Long Range Correlations in Cortex: Single Units and Oxygen. PI: Lawrence Snyder. Supporting research on long-range neural correlations and brain dynamics.
Trainee Awards
NIH F31 Fellowship
NINDS
2024
~$0.0002 per taxpayer per year
Awarded to Aidan Schneider for graduate research on transcriptomic cell type prediction from neural activity patterns.
NIH F32 Fellowship
NINDS
2024
~$0.0003 per taxpayer per year
Awarded to Dr. Leandro Fosque for postdoctoral research in computational neuroscience and theoretical approaches to neural dynamics.
Vision Sciences T32
2 years
Competitive selection for Jacob Amme supporting his interdisciplinary research in ecology and neuroscience.
CCSN
CCSN Pathway Funding
2 years each
Competitive selections for Gemechu Bekele Tolossa, Jordan Janzen-Meza, and Yifan Xu through the Cognitive, Computational, and Systems Neuroscience program.
CTCN
CTCN Postdoctoral Fellowship
Center for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience fellowship awarded to Dr. Leandro Fosque.
WashU
Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
Arts & Sciences Dean's Distinguished Graduate Fellowship awarded to Jimmy Zhong.
NIH R25 Program
Postdoctoral research program for residents and fellows awarded to Dr. Ravi Chopra.
LEC
Living Earth Collaborative
Postdoctoral Fellowship awarded to Dr. John Grady for interdisciplinary research in ecology and neuroscience.
Other Support and Inspiration
2018 - 2021
The Allen has been an undeniable force for creativity and rigor in the last 7 years of my science. I was fortunate to be selected as a Next Generation Leader in 2017. The cohort of other NGLs, our immersion in the institute, and the immediate explosion of connections and collaborations are evidenced throughout my lab's paper and grants. This is Paul Allen's masterpiece.
SHEW
University of Arkansas
Collaborative partner and co-author on our landmark criticality work. Woody's expertise in criticality theory and network neuroscience has been instrumental in developing our theoretical framework.
TURR
Brandeis University
Postdoctoral mentor and pioneer of homeostatic plasticity research. Gina's lab provided the foundational training in homeostatic mechanisms that shaped our research program.
MARDER
Brandeis University
Intellectual inspiration and pioneering researcher in neural circuit dynamics. Eve's groundbreaking work on circuit homeostasis continues to inspire our approach to understanding neural stability.