Biology/Chemistry Joint Seminar Series - Eva Feldman, University of Michigan

What determines whether the brain remains resilient throughout life or becomes vulnerable to neurodegenerative disease? This lecture will examine the biological foundations of brain health, from neural circuitry and cellular function to the molecular mechanisms that drive aging and disease. We will explore how genetics, environmental exposures, metabolism, inflammation, and lifestyle factors interact to influence the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The lecture will also highlight emerging biomarkers, advances in precision medicine, and recent discoveries demonstrating how exercise, nutrition, sleep, and other modifiable factors influence brain structure and function. By integrating insights from neuroscience, genetics, and translational medicine, students will gain an understanding of how fundamental biological processes shape cognitive health across the lifespan.

va L. Feldman, MD, PhD, is the James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor, the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Michigan. An internationally recognized physician-scientist, her research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms that promote lifelong brain health and drive neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and ALS. Continuously funded by the NIH for more than 35 years, she directs the ALS Center of Excellence and leads a multidisciplinary laboratory of 30 scientists dedicated to translating discoveries into new therapies and prevention strategies. Feldman led the first U.S. clinical trials of stem cell transplantation for ALS and has helped shape national clinical guidelines for neurological disease. She is a past President of the American Neurological Association and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, where she serves on the Executive Council and the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.