Richard provides executive assistant support to the The BRAIN Center’s Director; including support for clinical patient care. He also manages the grant and budget administration as well as oversees the operations administration.

“Labor is the fabled magician's wand, the philosophers stone, and the cap of good fortune.” – James Weldon Johnson

Mary manages both the Reward and CogMed Study. The reward study seeks to characterize the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for impulsivity and risky behavior in pediatric bipolar disorder. The CogMed study tests whether children with pediatric bipolar disorder can find improvements in their working memory capacity after undergoing the CogMed Working Memory Training Program. She also assists other coordinators with conducting clinical assessments, neurocognitive and neuropsychological tests, and fMRI scans.

“It is a transforming period to the next world of adventure. To find the next adventure is our duty..” – Binu Varghese

Jonathan is the liaison between College of Pharmac , The Brain Center, and Clinical Research Center. His actively manages the pharmacogenetic tracking of participants in the Brain Lithium Trial and the Development study. He also collects and processes blood samples, including DNA and RNA isolation as well as DNA extraction from blood and saliva samples. In addition, Jonathan conducts analyses on molecular genetics and drug therapy.

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy

Allison is closely involved with the Development Study. This study aims to define developmental changes in cognitive and affective neural circuitry functioning in youth with Adolescent Bipolar Disorder, to characterize the course of illness and associated neurocognitive function, and to determine the association between brain function and behavior. She also conducts neuropsychological and neurocognitive tests, acquires fMRI and Eye Lab data, and completes clinical assessments and diagnostic interview with study subjects.

“There is a great deal of unmapped country within us…” – George Eliot

Jean heads data quality control measures for all clinical evaluations obtained during research participation. She assists also in the scheduling and coordination of new research participants. In addition, Jean supervises our externs and coordinates patient issues with Dr. Pavuluri.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller

Emily is the lead coordinator of the CoLT (Collaborative Lithium Trials) Study which aims to assess the efficacy of lithium as a treatment for pediatric bipolar I disorder. She has an M.A. in counseling and is excited to use her background in multicultural counseling and research as a foundation for the work she does at The BRAIN Center.

“I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.” – Helen Shaw in Parenthood

Lead Coordinator of the Brain Mechanisms study, a study of an ADHD and Pediatric Bipolar Disorder (PBD). The study is designed to study how the brains of children and adolescences with ADHD and Bipolar Disorder differ. This research could help further distinguish ADHD and PBD from one another and will lead to more effective treatments for future patients. Jonathan also has a history of clinical experience and completes many of the clinical assessments for the Lab.

“If there is anything we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.” – Carl Jung

Gail manages the Rainbow Study and the on-going recruitment process. She also assists other coordinators in scheduling and screening potential subjects to participate in our studies.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” - Chinese Proverb

Nicole is primarily responsible for fMRI data acquisition, pre and post processing of fMRI data, and fMRI QC management for all studies. She also conducts neuropsychological and neurocognitive tests with study participants, assists in manuscript preparation and submissions, and designs information graphics and other visual media and marketing materials to support the lab.

“What wisdom can you find greater than kindness.” – Jean'Jacques Rousseau

Meredith manages the Brain Lithium Trial Study, which examines the effects of lithium and the difference in brain function between children and adolescents with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder and healthy individuals. She also conducts clinical assessments, neurocognitive and neuropsychological tests, and fMRI scans.

“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” – Alfred Tennyson