Engineering neuroprotection and neuroplasticity in primate cortex
Azadeh Yazdan, PhD (hear my name)
Associate Professor
Weill Neurohub Investigator
University of Washington

Abstract
Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability, with limited treatment options. While early intervention can reduce immediate tissue damage, long-term recovery relies heavily on the brain’s capacity for plasticity in the weeks and months following injury. Brain stimulation—through excitatory, inhibitory, or combined modulation of neural networks—holds significant promise for enhancing recovery. However, its clinical translation has been hindered by limited mechanistic insight and suboptimal timing relative to the brain’s evolving post-stroke state. To address these challenges, our work focuses on developing advanced technologies to study and guide recovery in non-human primates, a critical translational model. We evaluate both electrical stimulation and genetically targeted approaches, such as optogenetics and chemogenetics, to modulate brain activity during different stages of recovery. These interventions are paired with high-resolution recording and imaging techniques that allow us to map stimulation-induced changes in neural activity, neurovascular coupling, and behavior over time. In this talk, I will introduce our advanced neurotechnologies and share recent findings on how targeted brain stimulation can promote neuroplasticity and neuroprotection after stroke. I will also discuss how these insights may inform the development of next-generation therapeutic strategies for stroke recovery.

Invited by Rosa Cossart
Monday 22 June 2026 at 11am – Inmed conference room