McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida

In humans and dogs, naturally occurring bone and brain tumors are strikingly similar and all too often a brutal diagnosis. At the University of Florida, MBI researcher Dr. Elias Sayour and veterinary oncologist Dr. Rowan Milner are working with canine patients to develop treatments that may one day heal humans.

“Rowan will call me and say, ‘Look, this dog’s got an issue, and we’ve got to figure this out.’ Being co-located allows this type of work to move forward in a way that would be very hard at other centers,” Sayour said.

Learn more about their partnership and their remarkable results in the latest issue of Florida Physician magazine: bit.ly/4cetx3U

New research in combat veterans sheds light on patterns of altered brain activity that appear to be associated with symptom severity for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and/or mild traumatic brain injury, a step toward developing more precise interventions capable of overcoming treatment resistance. The Brain Communications study is our latest MBI Research Snapshot.

Read more: bit.ly/4cqA5fN

MBI researcher Dr. Lisa Merlo studies the unique stressors faced by physician assistant & medical students and offers recommendations to improve wellness programs and expand access to them.

Read her latest paper in the Journal of American College Health: bit.ly/4hRRSQD

Congratulations to MBI Gator NeuroScholar Dr. Zachary Sorrentino and Dr. Koji Hosaka, recipients of 2026 Brain Aneurysm Foundation grants aimed at deepening understanding of brain aneurysms and advancing new approaches to detection, risk assessment and treatment.

Learn more about the grants and their projects 👉 bit.ly/4bx4kS7

Slower sugar processing in the brain may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s, according to a new University of Florida study of postmortem human brains published today in Cell Reports Medicine.

“We all know that lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet have an influence and are protective against Alzheimer’s,” said senior author and MBI researcher Dr. Stefan Prokop, “and this could be a link that explains why.”

Read more: bit.ly/4pZ19sl

With $2.5 million in funding from the Lewy Body Dementia Association, a team of scientists from four universities, co-led by MBI researcher Dr. Breton Asken, aims to provide new insights to improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies.

“We want to both accelerate diagnostic biomarker research in Lewy body dementia and provide clinicians with a clearer understanding of what these biomarker tests mean for their patients,” Asken said.

Read more: bit.ly/4hHGtCY

We are pleased to announce that Brian L. Hoh, MD, MBA, FACS, FAHA, FAANS, chair of the Lillian S. Wells Department of Neurosurgery and chief of medical staff for UF Health, has been selected as the next dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine.

“I am deeply honored by this appointment,” Hoh said. “For over 20 years, I have been privileged to be part of the UF College of Medicine community. I am excited about the opportunity to continue to work together, building upon our collective strengths to impact the future of academic medicine and the communities we serve through our dedication to improving the lives of patients, advancing science and training the next generation of healthcare leaders. I look forward to partnering with faculty, staff, students and trainees to realize our vision of UF as the nation’s leading public medical school.”

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hoh, and visit https://ufhealth.org/news/2026/dr-brian-hoh-selected-as-dean-of-the-uf-college-of-medicine to learn more.

A big congrats to MBI members Drs. Robert McKenna and Maurice Swanson for being named Distinguished Professors, the highest faculty honor awarded at the University of Florida.

The designation recognizes professors for exceptional achievements in teaching, research and publication, and professional and public service.

Congratulations to University of Florida College of Medicine faculty members Azra Bihorac, M.D., M.S., FCCM, FASN, Robert McKenna, Ph.D., Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., and Maurice Swanson, Ph.D., on being honored as UF distinguished professors. Learn more about their exceptional service at https://news.drgator.ufl.edu/2026/07/22/four-uf-college-of-medicine-faculty-named-distinguished-professors/. 🐊🎉

A new preclinical discovery co-led by MBI researchers could pave the way for using gene therapy to restore hearing in children born deaf due to Usher syndrome.

The Nature Communications study describes how mutations in the MYO7A gene may affect a tuning mechanism required for auditory hair cells to detect sound.

Read more: bit.ly/4ba4VsE