Explore the wonders of the nervous system during Brain Awareness Hour. The museum is partnering with the RGV Society for Neuroscience Chapter to offer online presentations by nervous system researchers, perfect for adults and teens interested in expanding their awareness of brain science.
Brain Awareness Hour: What can animals teach us about the aging brain?
Friday, November 20
5:30-6:30 PM
Presenter: Dr. Cristina Bañuelos
As people in the US and around the world live longer, it is important that we understand how our brain changes as we get older so that we can develop effective treatments for conditions such as memory loss and cognitive decline that decrease quality of life and lead to loss of independence at advanced age. This presentation will highlight how rodent and primate models of normal cognitive aging serve as invaluable research tools that allow us to explore and, eventually, find novel therapeutic treatments for age related cognitive decline.
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Register online | Brain Awareness Hour takes place virtually via Zoom. Registrants will receive an email with the webinar link the day before the presentation. Participation is free but registration is required for access to the link.
About the Presenter
Cristina Bañuelos is a research scientist at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, MD. Her research focuses on identifying the neurobiological underpinnings of age-related cognitive decline in rodent and primate models of normal aging. Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Dr. Bañuelos completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University and returned home for a gap year to figure out her next move. In an attempt to explore her options, she began working in the lab of Dr. Luis Colom at what was then the University of Texas at Brownsville. Under Dr. Colom’s mentorship, she completed an MS in Biological Sciences in 2006. This experience solidified her passion for biomedical research and in 2008 she began her doctoral work in the Behavioral and Cellular Neuroscience program at Texas A&M University. Her graduate lab moved to the University of Florida College of Medicine, where she completed her PhD in Neuroscience in 2014. Dr. Bañuelos joined the NIH as a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience where she now continues her work as a research scientist. Currently, Dr. Banuelos is an officer of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
Brain Awareness Hour is the part of Brain Awareness Week and is organized by the RGV Society for Neuroscience Chapter
