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Welcome to Neuroscience Symposium 2025!

 

We are excited to welcome you to the 2025 Oklahoma Neuroscience Symposium, presented by the Department of Neurosurgery. This two-day event will take place on November 20th at the OKC Innovation Hall (755 Research Parkway OKC, OK 73104) and on November 21th at the Nicholson Conference Center (1000 NE 13th St Suite 5700, Oklahoma City, OK 73104). 

 The Symposium opens on November 20th with flash talks presented by PhD candidates from the Neuroscience PhD Program and neurosurgery residents, giving our talented trainees the opportunity to share their cutting-edge research. The second day, November 21th, will feature keynote presentations from Anthony Kontos, PhD (Universite of Pittsburgh) and Prof. Michael Fehlings, PhD (University of Toronto, Canada), alongside talks by researchers from our own university, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and other institutions.

This symposium serves as a platform to highlight and strengthen neuroscience research across the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) campus. It also lays the foundation for cross-disciplinary collaborations among neuroscience, neurosurgery, and other research programs at OUHSC and OMRF, promoting interactions between trainees, clinicians, and researchers. These collaborations are intended to spark new publications, inspire grant applications, and showcase the exceptional work already being conducted on our campus.

The theme this year focuses on advances in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury research, bridging basic, clinical, and translational science. We aim to foster dialogue that enhances our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of neural tissue damage and regenerations, as well as opportunities for interventions. 

The symposium is designed for a diverse audience, including neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, residents, fellows, graduate and medical students, and nurses. We look forward to the exchange of ideas that will emerge from this gathering of researchers, clinicians, and students, and the opportunity to drive innovation and discovery forward in our field.

We are grateful for your participation in the 2025 Oklahoma Neuroscience Symposium and look forward to two days of insightful discussions and networking.

 

 

This Year's Topic: 

 

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND SPINAL CORD INJURY

 

 

Thursday, November 20: 

Neuroscience Social Event: networking and flash talk sessions

Venue: Innovation Hall at Oklahoma City Innovation District

Friday, November 21: 

4th Annual Neuroscience Symposium to be held at Nicholson Tower, Gandy Auditorium

Keynote Speakers:

Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS

Vice Chair of Neurosurgery,
University of Toronto

Topic:
"Spinal Cord Injury"

Anthony P. Kontos, PhD

Professor, Vice Chair of Clinical Research, Research Director, Concussion Laboratory and UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, University of Pittsburgh

Topic:
"Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion"

Schedule of Events

Day 1:

Neuroscience Symposium Social Event

Date and time: Thursday, November 20, 2025 5:00pm - 8:30pm

Venue: Innovation Hall, 755 Research Parkway OKC, OK 7310

Program: networking reception and flash talks

Day 2:

Date: November 21, 2025; 

Venue: Nicholson Conference Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Campus 

Keynote speakers:

Anthony Kontos, PhD, FNAK, FACSM, FAPA, FAASP
Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS

Program: 

Breakfast and welcome, keynote talks (45’ + 15’ Q&A), invited talks (20-25'), selected talks from trainees (9’ + 3’ Q&A) based on abstract, lunch & poster session, award ceremony

Invited speakers: Jasmeet Hayes, PhD; Andriy Yabluchanskiy, MD, PhD; Phillip Bonney, MD; Li Chao, MD

Schedule of sessions
7:30am Breakfast and Registration
8:00am Zachary Smith, MD
David Sherry, PhD		 Department of Neurosurgery
Department of Cell Biology		 Welcome and introductory remarks from the directors of the Neuroscience PhD program
8:15am - 10:10am

Morning Session: Spinal Cord Injury
8:15am Li Chao, MD The University of Oklahoma Health Campus,
College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery		 CSF diversion in acute spinal cord injury
8:35am Phillip Bonney, MD The University of Oklahoma Health Campus,
College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery		 ATSCI activation: a pathway to improve time to decompression in spinal cord injury
8:55am Coffee break
9:10am Prof. Michael Fehlings, MD, PhD
[KEYNOTE]		 University of Toronto, Department of Neurosurgery; Toronto Western Hospital Repair and Regeneration of the Injured Spinal Cord: From Molecule to Man
10:10am Break
10:20am-11:20am

Selected short talks from trainees

 
10:20am Jennifer Ihuoma Dyslipidemia and Aging: Impact of LDL oxidation on cerebromicrovascular endothelial and mitochondrial function
10:32am Stefen Dollar Oklahoman Rural–Urban Gaps in Stroke System Readiness and a Follow-Up Outcomes Study
10:44am Dorina Nagy Chemo- and Radiotherapy Promote Cerebromicrovascular Pathology in Preclinical Pediatric Medulloblastoma Model
10:56am Laura Boada-Robayo, MD External Validation of SEDAN-S score: a Grading Scale to Predict Hemorrhagic Transformation after Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke
11:08am Jeng Kong The role of cerebromicrovascular dysfunction in post-stroke cognitive impairment
11:20am-11:40am

Vendor show
11:40am - 12:35pm

Poster session: groups 1-4 & lunch
12:35pm - 1:25pm

Poster session: groups 5-8 & lunch
1:25pm - 3:40pm

Afternoon Session: Traumatic Brain Injury
1:25pm Paterno Rosalia, MD The University of Oklahoma Health Campus, Department of Neurosurgery The hippocampal electrophysiological signature of TBI in a closed head injury mouse model
1:40pm Zalan Kaposzta, MD, PhD The University of Oklahoma Health Campus, Department of Neurosurgery Neurovascular coupling as a novel biomarker of TBI-related cognitive decline
2:00pm Jasmeet Hayes, PhD Ohio State University, Department of Psychology Wrapping your head around it: links between concussion and accelerated aging
2:25pm Break
2:40pm Prof. Anthony P. Kontos, PhD
[KEYNOTE]		 University of Pittsburgh, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program Emerging evidence for a clinical profiles approach to concussion
3:40pm

Award Ceremony, Closing Remarks

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors for their substantial contribution to the symposium and their continuous support to neuroscience research.


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Announcements

Registration and abstract submission

Registration and abstract submission - Friday, August 1, 2025

Please register for the Symposium. Abstract submission site has opened and we are looking forward to receive submissions.

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