Jonathan Coutinho wants to make strokes more visible in science and societyAs a neurologist specializing in both the clinical and fundamental aspects of stroke, Jonathan Coutinho is dedicated to improving the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke. In his inaugural lecture on June 26, 2026, he discussed new approaches to making strokes more visible and detectable at an earlier stage, both by advancing scientific insight into the mechanisms underlying stroke and by increasing public awareness of a disease that remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The lecture marks his appointment as Professor of Vascular Neurology at the University of Amsterdam.
7-Tesla MRI scan improves DBS treatment in Parkinson’s diseaseBy using a powerful 7-tesla MRI scan to examine the brain in great detail before surgery, neurosurgeons can place electrodes more accurately during Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). As a result, more patients with Parkinson’s disease benefit from the treatment, and the average improvement in motor symptoms is greater. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by Yarit Wiggerts, Maarten Bot, and colleagues of the Department of Neurosurgery at Amsterdam UMC.
Researchers identify protein signatures in memory-encoding synapsesA study by the Molecular Engrams team in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (MCN) at VU Amsterdam, published in Science Advances, has revealed distinct protein expression signatures in memory-encoding synapses of the hippocampus. By isolating and analyzing synapses associated with specific memories, the researchers provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying memory storage and maintenance.
