Brain Symposium

By Wan Ahmad, Ph.D

The mission of the Center for Brain Repair at Florida State University is to promote research, discovery, education, and community outreach in neuroscience and mental health. The Symposium of the Developing Mind held in Tallahassee on April 8 is the very first symposium held by the Center for Brain Repair and discussed the treatment and diagnosis of brain disorders, as well as the awareness of Brain Disorders and mechanisms of the brain. The goal of this first symposium is to increase dialogue and partnerships to all stakeholders in the medical, psychological/mental health, legislature, and families. This symposium discussed Developmental Disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, movement disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury.

The keynote speaker, Jill Escher, founder of the Escher Fund for Autism and President of the Autism of the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Dr. Amy Wetherby, Director of the FSU Autism Institute, discussed the epigenesis of Autism; and the importance of early detection/diagnosis and treatment respectively. Dr. Gary Ostrander is the Vice President for Research for Florida State University, indicated how excited he is to develop this program and further it’s reach to medical and mental health professionals, agencies, community outreach and families to share their findings and research. I am told that this is the start of many more symposiums from the Center for Brain Repair.

Sunland resident Michele B. commented “I never knew I was capable of doing what we all did. At first, I didn’t know what it was all about, but once we got into it, it was super!”

Dr. Wan Ahmad and Dr. Gary Ostrander.