Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience

How does the brain power its own memories — and what happens when that system fails? MPFI Research Group Leader Vidhya Rangaraju, Ph.D. sat down with neuroscientist Mark Mattson on the Brain Ponderings podcast to explore exactly that. From mitochondrial dynamics to synaptic plasticity, this episode gets into the science behind how our brains produce the energy they need when and where it's needed. Listen on Spotify or watch on YouTube. 🎧️ https://lnkd.in/d_wyGKwp 📹️ https://lnkd.in/exPQ--Hh

The latest research from Salil Bidaye featured in this piece by The Transmitter!

Thank you to the more than 650 science lovers who joined us on Saturday for Brain Exploration Day! What a fun day of sharing our science and hearing your questions and ideas about how the brain works. We are also grateful to all of our staff and volunteers, as well as Bright Horizons in Wellington, who helped support the event. Read more about Brain Exploration Day and see pictures from the event here: https://lnkd.in/e43Kkm-J

Don't miss the new preprint from the Bidaye Lab! Using the Drosophila 🪰 model system, the team uncovers central and peripheral neural pathways of walking, disentangling central pattern generator circuits from leg-derived, proprioceptive feedback. This work addresses long-standing questions in the field of movement, and the insights gained are relevant far beyond the fly, including for understanding movement disorders and the development of advanced prosthetics and robotics. Congratulations to the entire team, Neha Sapkal, Divya Sthanu Kumar, Suhas Sunke, Nino Mancini, Jason Pitchford, Kaz Murakami, and Salil Bidaye! https://lnkd.in/gQN2SvXx

We’re honored to share some exciting news! MPFI has been nominated for Health System Innovation & Academic Partnership of the Year at the MedTech World North America Awards. This recognition celebrates organizations that are advancing clinical innovation, translational research, and startup collaboration. To be included among this year’s nominees is a great honor. Show your support for neuroscience research! Cast your vote for MPFI today – we are listed on page 3: https://lnkd.in/gjE_yyi2  #Neuroscience #MedTech #MedTechWorld 

We are thrilled to share that MPFI CEO and Scientific Director, Dr. David Fitzpatrick , has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This designation is considered one of the highest honors in science, as it requires special nomination and rigorous peer review. Being selected as a member designates that a researcher has made significant contributions to discovery and innovation. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Fitzpatrick on this important recognition. https://lnkd.in/eptzEBBj

Have you seen “The Resilient Brain,” a brand-new documentary by The Health Channel / South Florida PBS that explores the complexity of the human mind? If so, you may have noticed a familiar face. MPFI research group leader Vidhya Rangaraju, Ph.D. was part of this project and provided her expertise on mitochondria’s critical role in neurodegenerative disease. We were also thrilled to see colleagues from the Florida Atlantic University Stiles Nicholson Brain Institute and The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, as well as scientific and medical experts, patients, and caregivers – truly a comprehensive deep dive into modern neuroscience. You can check it out at https://lnkd.in/enV7BrAE

Congratulations to our 2026 graduates of A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School, Jupiter Campus, in partnership with our Max Planck Academy. Their accomplishments and passion were on display on April 21st during the fifth annual Capstone Celebration. These 18 outstanding young scientists have a bright future ahead. Read more about their accomplishments and please join us in wishing them the best! https://bit.ly/4d8Pyly  

Have you registered for Brain Exploration Day yet? On Saturday, May 9 we are opening up the institute for science-lovers from all over to enjoy demonstrations, hands-on activities, and the chance to see where some of the most cutting-edge neuroscience in the world is taking place. Brain Exploration day goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free - but advance registration is required. Sign up today! https://lnkd.in/epqUUXTi

Congratulations to Dr. Raphael Heldman, who earned his neuroscience doctorate from the joint MPFI and FAU IMPRS-SC program last week! Raphi successfully defended his PhD research "A two-phase hippocampal code linking time and distance estimation to action," which explored how the brain uses self-motion to estimate distance traveled. We look forward to seeing where Dr. Heldman's talents and curiosity lead him next. Congratulations Raphi!