The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation announced the awarding of its 2018 NARSAD Young Investigator Grants valued at more than $13.8 million to 200 of the world’s most promising young scientists. Among them is our long-time fellow Dr. Papoutsi, to whom we offer our warmest congratulations and best wishes for her research!
Below is the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Press Release section regarding her awarding. Click here to read the full announcement or check out the full list of NARSAD Young Investigator Grantees.
“Athanasia Papoutsi, Ph.D., Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Greece, is taking a closer look at the cells in the prefrontal cortex of the brain to determine whether modifications of the “spines” in single neurons (points from which signals are transmitted) contribute to inflexible behavior in some psychiatric disorders. In particular, people with schizophrenia exhibit an inability to adapt to a changing environment and dysfunctional decision-making. Dr. Papoutsi’s research goal is to identify how such inflexible behavior is determined at the cellular level, with regard to the spatial and density properties of spines and processing in the prefrontal cortex. Identifying the mechanisms that allow for flexible decision making could help guide new therapies for schizophrenia.”
