About
At the core of every successful research career is one simple but elusive ingredient: time.The Fixel Early Researcher Catalyst Awards are designed to provide that time, a protected opportunity for talented early-career investigators to develop ideas, build teams, and advance projects that will shape the future of clinical and translational neuroscience. The goal is to catalyze the next generation of Fixel-focused researchers, by investing in people and projects that will have real-world impact on the care and understanding of human neurological disease.
2025 Catalyst award winners
Jackson Cagle, Ph.D.
An Integrated Mobile and Wearable Ecosystem for Symptom Monitoring in Movement Disorders
Bradley Wilkes, Ph.D.
Circuit Characterization and Therapeutic Intervention in a Novel Genetic Model of DYT1 Dystonia
Diego Guarin, Ph.D.
Video-Based Monitoring of Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease from Home
Maira Sarpi, MD
Deep‑Learning MRI Biomarkers for Monitoring Amyloid‑Lowering Therapy – Retrospective UF Study Proposal
Franchesca Arias, Ph.D.
Community Check-Up as a Catalyst for Cognitive Health Awareness and Engagement in Alzheimer’s Research
Matthew Remz, MD
Local Field Potentials in Craniocervical Dystonia Treated with Deep Brain Stimulation
John Yu, MD, MS
Pallidal Local Field Potentials (LFPs) as Biomarkers for
Predicting Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Response in
Primary Generalized Dystonia (PGD)
Breton Asken, Ph.D., ATC
Accelerating Programmatic Growth and Professional Development Through Intersecting Fixel- Related Clinical Research Initiatives
Jesse Cohen, MD
The influence of circadian temperature rhythms on sleep-wake function in Parkinson’s disease
Lauren Fanty, MD, MPH
Acoustic Biomarkers in Parkinson’s Disease:
A Digital Cough Analysis Approach
Naueen Chaudhry, MD, MS
The Link between Inflammation and Neurodegenerative Disorders: Insights from Big Data
Manuel Amaris, MD
Integrating the Brain: Gut Axis to Improve Outcomes and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease
