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umn-midb.bsky.social
Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
@umn-midb.bsky.social
110 followers 32 following 47 posts
The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain is dedicated to fostering the healthy brain function of children across the lifespan.
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umn-midb.bsky.social
To close one of the most persistent blind spots in autism research, MIDB’s Meghan Swanson, PhD, has been awarded a $34.7M grant from @ariaroadmap.org 🧠

Read more ➡️ z.umn.edu/MAPLE
Meghan Swanson, PhD, smiling and wearing a olive green blouse.
August 4, 2026 at 1:55 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Calling all providers! 📚

Elevate your practice with MIDB’s new evidence-based training modules, including autism, anxiety, ADHD, OCD/PANDAS, challenging behaviors and more.

Start here ➡️ z.umn.edu/MEDBProviderModules
Screenshot of provider module landing page, which is linked in the post, with multiple modules listed.
July 16, 2026 at 3:40 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Stepping into a professional workplace for the first time can be intimidating. But a partnership between MIDB and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis is changing that, giving students hands-on work experience before they even graduate high school.

Read more ➡️ z.umn.edu/CristoRey
Cris and Jessica Martinez at a Cristo Rey graduation celebration event.
June 10, 2026 at 5:45 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
The great outdoors has the power to reshape the architecture of the young brain and hone brain functioning — making it the ultimate classroom for a developing mind, says MIDB member Cathy Jordan, PhD.

Read more ➡️ z.umn.edu/NatureIsNurture
Nature is nurture
Cathy Jordan, PhD, illuminates the health-boosting benefits of nature — especially for kids.
z.umn.edu
May 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Youth journalists join MIDB’s Dr. Maria Kroupina to explore stress, resilience, and brain health in the latest Brain Health Solutions for All podcast—a partnership with our CEEd Hub and
the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation.

Listen ➡️ z.umn.edu/SMSBPod3
Youth journalists sit at a table conversing with Dr. Maria Kroupina and Jackelin Jara Millán.
May 8, 2026 at 9:32 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
The @touretteassn.bsky.social has officially designated the MnTiC Lab, located at MIDB, as a Center of Excellence. This program recognizes medical and academic institutions that promote the highest standards of evidence-based care and research.

Read the full story ➡️ z.umn.edu/MnTiCCofE
MnTiC Lab team in front of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
April 1, 2026 at 8:45 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Join us for a sprint focused on ADHD and complex ADHD, part of our larger Project ECHO webinar series!

🗓️ Thursdays, April 2-23, 12-1 p.m.

Ideal for primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, mental health & educational providers ➡️ z.umn.edu/adhdsprint
Event graphic for "ADHD and Complex ADHD Sprint," a virtual webinar series held Thursdays, April 2–23, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. The event focuses on telehealth for mobile, military-connected, and remote children. Funded by the Department of Defense and University of Minnesota (ICI/MIDB).
March 25, 2026 at 4:04 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Explore how brain health supports well-being at every stage of life at the Brain Health Fair, this Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m 🧠

This event is free but registration is required ➡️ z.umn.edu/brainhealth
An event flyer for the "Brain Health Fair," featuring a central illustration of a brain layered over pink and yellow circular shapes. The top of the flyer displays several partner logos, primarily from University of Minnesota departments and units and NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center. Main Text: "Brain health fair" in large, bold maroon lettering. Date & Time: A yellow circle in the bottom right corner reads "Saturday, March 21." A small maroon banner in the top left indicates "10 AM – 1 PM." Location: 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN, 55411. Key Details: Curved text around the central brain graphic states: "Food and drink provided" and "All welcome - free entry." A QR code in the bottom left corner is labeled "register here." Contact info at the bottom: call 612-626-8762 or email uroc@umn.edu. Host: Presented by The Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC).
March 18, 2026 at 5:50 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Congratulations to Lin Zhang, PhD, co-director of the Analytics Hub, on her induction into the University of Minnesota Academies for Excellence in team science 🔬

This honor recognizes her instrumental role in utilizing collaboration to address intractable problems in healthcare research.
Graphic with a portrait of a woman with long dark hair and glasses on the left. The right side has a yellow background with maroon and white text that says: "Congratulations Lin Zhang, PhD On being inducted into University of Minnesota Academies for Excellence in Team Science!
March 13, 2026 at 8:06 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Congratulations to Dr. Damien Fair, MIDB co-director, on being named to the inaugural Index of Inspiring Black Scientists.

The database spotlights exceptional Black scientists driving excellence, leadership, and collaboration across disciplines worldwide ➡️ z.umn.edu/InspiringBlackScientists
A professional portrait of Dr. Damien Fair, who is smiling and wearing a dark suit jacket and white collared shirt. He is standing outdoors in front of a stone building with his hands clasped.
February 25, 2026 at 3:36 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
MIDB researchers are leading the charge to understand autism spectrum disorder at its earliest stages—and to support families along the way.

Learn more about their work ➡️ z.umn.edu/MIDBUnmaskingAutism
Dr. Catherine Burrows holds an infant in the MRI Imaging Suite at MIDB, while Dr. Meghan Swanson smiles at them.
December 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Just launched: A full suite of no-cost provider trainings developed through the DoD Child Collaboration Study 🌟

Flexible, practical and research-backed! Explore modules ➡️ z.umn.edu/MEDBProviderModules
A promotional image for a module on early autism intervention featuring Dr. Kyle Sterrett. The text reads: "Early Autism Intervention: What Works, Why it Matters."
December 5, 2025 at 4:46 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Tiny bricks, big impact 🧱

Dr. Jeff Wozniak received a play-based LEGO® MRI Scanner set—assembled with care by a staff member's son, Oliver—that will help the Child Family Life team at MIDB ease anxiety for kids preparing for MRI scans.
Dr. Wozniak and Oliver are looking closely at a mock MRI machine, in a room with a distinctive blue and white wave-patterned wall. Oliver, wearing an orange shirt and black jacket, is standing near the machine's opening. Dr. Wozniak, wearing a light-colored sweater, leans on a blue cushioned examination table next to the boy, pointing or looking into the machine. Clear tubing hangs from the equipment on the wall. Oliver, a young boy with short brown hair wearing a black puffer jacket and an orange shirt, is intensely focused on building a Lego set. He is sitting at a round table, assembling a small Lego figure. In front of him is a pile of gray, white, and teal Lego bricks, and an instruction booklet lies open to the left. The background shows large windows overlooking a wintry outdoor scene and a modern indoor area with upholstered chairs. Oliver is proudly holding up a completed Lego model of a medical imaging suite. The model features a white and teal MRI machine and several Lego minifigures representing medical staff and patients. He is wearing an orange long-sleeve shirt and is seated at a table. The background shows large windows overlooking a wintry outdoor scene and a modern indoor area with upholstered chairs.
December 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Join us for a hybrid presentation about evidence-based intervention for autistic individuals with intellectual disability and/or high support needs in Grand Rapids, Minn. on Nov. 20 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Learn more & register ➡️ z.umn.edu/MIDB1120
A young boy using a wheelchair smiles while interacting with a tablet outdoors. A red banner reads “Nov. 20, 11:30–1:30 p.m.” Below, text on a yellow background announces a hybrid presentation titled “Service Needs and Evidence-Based Intervention for Autistic Individuals with Intellectual Disability and/or High Support Needs (School-Age and Up)” in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
November 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
🚀 New from MIDB: Free, self-paced training modules for providers supporting children’s mental, emotional, developmental and behavioral health.

Learn more and get access ➡️ z.umn.edu/MEDBProviderModules
Landing page showing three self-paced online training modules on autism: 'Autism: Supporting Newly Diagnosed Children and Their Families,' 'Autism Assessment,' and 'Early Autism Intervention: What Works, Why It Matters.'
November 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
This work, a collaborative effort between MIDB and the University of Minnesota's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, provides a first glance on what we can achieve with 7T MRI in infants and highlights its role as a promising new avenue for developmental cognitive neuroscience 🧠
drjuliamoser.bsky.social Julia Moser @drjuliamoser.bsky.social · Nov 12
🚨 New preprint on the first infant 7T MRI project in North America! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We showcase that by leveraging 7T for infants, we can improve data quality and thereby facilitate precision functional mapping in early development.
www.biorxiv.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
MIDB researchers Drs. Maria Kroupina, Jeffrey Wozniak, and Jessica Simacek recently presented at the Zero to Three LEARN Conference, highlighting how brain research is driving new clinical, intervention, and community outreach models to support children facing early adversity 💡
A wide shot of a large audience seated in a conference hall at the Zero to Three LEARN Conference. The room is brightly lit with white ceiling panels. Many attendees, mostly women, are seated in rows of chairs, looking toward the front of the room (off-camera). Two men in the front row are visible and facing the stage. Dr. Maria Kroupina stands at a gray, fabric-covered lectern in an indoor conference room, gesturing with her hands during a session at the Zero to Three LEARN Conference. From left to right, Drs. Jessica Simacek and Maria Kroupina stand smiling in front of the blue and yellow "ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference" backdrop. Dr. Jeff Wozniak stands smiling in front of the blue and yellow "ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference" backdrop.
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
What a day for brain science! 🧠✨

We loved connecting with our community at Brain Day this past Sunday, where MIDB teams from Creativity Camp, the MnTiC Lab, CDNI, and the CEEd Hub shared interactive demos and hands-on experiments, celebrating discovery at the U of M.
Five smiling people in matching blue "Brain Day 2025" t-shirts stand side-by-side behind a table at an event hosted by the Center for Developmental Neuroimaging. A woman in a blue t-shirt smiles behind a table of colorful stress toys, engaging in conversation with a boy wearing a paper brain hat and a man in a black shirt, at Brain Day. Four people sit at a "Creation Station" table with art supplies. A chalkboard sign behind them features a "Community Puzzle Portrait" and "Creation Station" in chalk. Three young women in blue "Brain Day" t-shirts sit behind a table displaying a brain model, hand sanitizer, and a poster explaining Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Tics and OCD.
November 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Join us for a sprint focused on autism spectrum disorder, part of our larger Project ECHO webinar series!

🗓️ Thursdays, Oct. 30-Nov. 20, 12-1 p.m.

Ideal for primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, mental health & educational providers ➡️ z.umn.edu/autismsprint
A graphic with a maroon background and yellow text that reads: 'Expand Your Expertise. Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Training for Providers.' A large yellow circle with a black arrow pointing right is in the upper right corner. The University of Minnesota MIDB logo is in the bottom right.
October 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Stop by the North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids, Minn. on Oct. 30 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for a presentation and listening session! Learn about what every good autism evaluation should include and share your insights. Register ➡️ z.umn.edu/as7l
An event flyer with a split background: a gold-yellow section on the left and a deep burgundy section on the right. The text on the left reads: "Join us for an autism evaluation presentation and listening session in Grand Rapids!" The text on the right provides details: "Date: Thursday, Oct. 30. Time: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Location: North Central Research and Outreach Center, 1861 US-169, Grand Rapids, MN 55744."
October 15, 2025 at 8:30 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
In the first episode of the "Brain Health Solutions for All" series, a collaboration between MIDB and the Youth Community Journalism Podcast, youth journalists interview experts on addiction and recovery, including CEEd Hub director Dr. Dziwe Ntaba ➡️ youtu.be/PKinAXdRdiM?...
Three people, including youth journalist, Dr. Benjamin Clark, and Dr. Dziwe Ntaba, are seated at a table for a podcast recording.
October 14, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
natneuro.nature.com
Hormonal milieu influences whole-brain structural dynamics across the menstrual cycle using dense sampling in multiple individuals

@carinaheller.bsky.social, @uni-jena.de,
@umn-midb.bsky.social, @icsantabarbara.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Hormonal milieu influences whole-brain structural dynamics across the menstrual cycle using dense sampling in multiple individuals - Nature Neuroscience
Heller et al. showed dense longitudinal imaging in four females, including one with endometriosis and one using oral contraceptives, and the finding that different hormonal milieus influence widespread brain volume changes linked to progesterone or estradiol.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
carinaheller.bsky.social
Thrilled to share that I have been awarded a @bbrfoundation.bsky.social Young Investigator Grant!
bowers-wbhi.bsky.social The Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative @bowers-wbhi.bsky.social · Aug 21
Congrats, Dr. Carina Heller, PhD @carinaheller.bsky.social & thanks to @bbrfoundation.bsky.social. Carina received the 2025 BBRF Young Investigator Grant, enabling her to further investigate the impact of hormonal contraceptives use in adolescence, especially for mental health. #Neuroscience
A woman is pointing to her wall poster presentation about her neuroscience research while looking over her shoulder.
August 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
umnbioethics.bsky.social
Please join us for our upcoming Ethics Grand Rounds webinar, “Public Perceptions of Health Equity and How Communication Can Shape Understanding and Action” featuring Sarah Gollust, PhD.

🗓️: Friday, Oct. 3, 2025
⏱️: 12-1 p.m. (CDT)

Register Now! It’s free: z.umn.edu/ap9m
Ethics Grand Rounds webinar featuring speaker Sarah Gollust, PhD, on Friday, Oct. 3 from 12-1 p.m. CDT.
September 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
umn-midb.bsky.social
Join us for a free Mood Disorders Sprint, part of our larger Project ECHO webinar series!

🗓️ Thursdays, Sept. 25-Oct. 16, 12-1 p.m.

Ideal for primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, mental health & educational providers!

Register ➡️ z.umn.edu/mdsprint
Graphic with the title 'Mood Disorders Sprint.' On the left, a smiling woman hugs a young girl. On the right, four teenagers stand outside together, smiling with backpacks, notebooks, and headphones
September 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM