October edition of Mind & Motion

Message from Director, Dr. Michael Okun

As we welcome October and the beginning of fall at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, we are energized by the momentum across our clinical care, research and education missions. What makes Fixel special is not simply what we discover, but how we work together to translate those discoveries into meaningful change for folks and families living with neurological diseases.

In this month’s Mind & Motion, we share some of the latest research and news from across the Institute, recognize the accomplishments of our remarkable faculty and staff, highlight recent activities and look ahead to upcoming events.

Thank you for being part of the Fixel community and for sharing our commitment to a simple but ambitious goal: improving lives today while working toward a future where we can prevent the preventable and treat the treatable.

Upcoming Events

Calendar

10/20 Start & Spark- Evangelos Christou, Ph.D.

Elderly man blowing out candles on a birthday cake

10/16
The Art of Thriving

10/23
The Hope Weekend

10/24 Gator Brainwaves Walk to end Alzheimer's

10/28 Food is Medicine Field Day

11/21
Fixel Tailgate

News

More News

Featured Story

Earlier Alzheimer’s detection may be in our blood

New evidence illuminates link between iron dysregulation and Parkinson's

RMS Family Foundation supports the next generation of movement disorders experts

UF-led Alzheimer's research center awarded $22 million grant

People with Tourette syndrome, like Billie Eilish, use everything in their power to suppress tics – this exhausting process is key to treatment

Fixel in the news

People with Tourette syndrome, like Billie Eilish, use everything in their power to suppress ticks - this exhausting process is key to treatment

Awareness

Lewy Body Dementia Awareness Month

October is Lewy Body Dementia Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and understanding of the second most common type of progressive dementia. Lewy body dementia affects an estimated 1.4 million Americans and can cause changes in thinking, movement, sleep and behavior. Throughout the month, we recognize those living with LBD, their families and caregivers while highlighting the importance of education, support and continued research.

Fixel Fam Shoutouts
Celebrating the incredible achievements of our Fixel family! From groundbreaking research and prestigious awards to new leadership roles and professional milestones, we’re proud to recognize the faculty and staff who continue to advance our mission and make a lasting impact in neurological care.

Bhavana Patel, D.O.

Dr. Patel launched the Isa Elaine Foundation Brain Iron Disorders Care Program at the Fixel Institute, expanding access to specialized, multidisciplinary care for children and adults living with rare brain iron disorders. The new program brings together experts across multiple specialties to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care and support for individuals and families affected by these conditions.

Irene Malaty, M.D.

Dr. Malaty has been named Chief of the Movement Disorders Division at the UF Department of Neurology and the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. Dr. Malaty, the Barbara Padgett Dein Professor of Parkinson Disease, also directs UF’s Parkinson’s Foundation and Tourette Association Centers of Excellence. In her new leadership role, she will continue advancing specialized patient care, research and education for individuals living with movement disorders.

Nikolaus McFarland, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. McFarland has been named President of the Florida Society of Neurology (FSN), a medical specialty society dedicated to advancing the art and science of neurology. In this leadership role, Dr. McFarland will help advance the society’s mission of promoting neurological education, research and collaboration among healthcare professionals across Florida.

Abbas Babajani-Feremi, Ph.D

Dr. Babajani has been awarded a $2.32 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his project, “Personalized Epilepsy Surgery Through Virtual Resection and Multimodal Language Mapping.” The research will integrate advanced brain imaging, intracranial recordings and artificial intelligence to develop personalized surgical planning tools, with the goal of improving surgical outcomes and preserving critical language functions for individuals living with epilepsy.

Have feedback on the newsletter or ideas for content you’d like to see? Reach out to Grace at grace.huff@ufl.edu.