Dr. Elsa Pittaras | Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

Elsa Pittaras is a Basic Life Research Scientist at Stanford University, specializing in neuroscience, cognition, and sleep research. With expertise in molecular biology, neuroanatomy, pharmacology, and behavior, she has extensively studied decision-making processes in mice. Her research has contributed significantly to understanding sleep deprivation’s effects on cognition and memory in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease models. She has published multiple papers as both first and last author, showcasing her leadership in neuroscience. Elsa’s goal is to advance research on mood disorders, cognition, and neurochemistry, aspiring to become an independent researcher in the U.S. 🇺🇸🔬🧠

Education 🎓

Elsa Pittaras earned a B.S. in Physiology from the University of Caen (2010), an M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Paris Sud and ENS Cachan (2012), and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Neuro-PSI and the Biomedical Research Unit of the French Army (2016). Her multidisciplinary foundation in biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics from Châtelet, Douai (2009) laid the groundwork for her neuroscience expertise. Throughout her education, she focused on decision-making, sleep deprivation, and neurochemical mechanisms in cognition. 🧠📚🎓

Experience 👨‍🏫

Elsa Pittaras has been a Basic Life Research Scientist at Stanford University since 2022, focusing on cognitive enhancement in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease models. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford (2017-2022), investigating sleep and circadian rhythms’ effects on memory. Previously, she conducted research at the Biomedical Research Unit of the French Army (2016-2017) and completed her Ph.D. at Neuro-PSI. Her career includes internships in neuroscience at Neuro-PSI (2011-2012) and clinical observations at CHU Caen (2010). 🏛️🧬🧪

Research Interests 🔬

Elsa’s research explores decision-making, memory, and sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders. She pioneered the Mouse Gambling Task, revealing individual decision-making strategies. Her Ph.D. identified neurochemical markers of decision-making behaviors and the effects of sleep deprivation. At Stanford, she investigates sleep’s impact on cognition in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s models, aiming to improve memory and sleep quality through pharmacological interventions. Her work bridges behavioral neuroscience with neurochemistry to enhance cognitive function. 🧠💡🛌

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Elsa has received prestigious grants, including the Jerome Lejeune Research Grants (2019, 2020), the Fyssen Foundation Research Grant (2017), and travel awards for conferences such as T21RS (2021) and Advances in Sleep and Circadian Science (2019). She was also recognized by the French Society for Research and Sleep Medicine (2014) and received a European Neuroscience Federation travel award (2016). 🏅

Publications

Selectively Blocking Small Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels Improves Cognition in Aged Mice.

Short-term γ-aminobutyric acid antagonist treatment improves long-term sleep quality, memory, and decision-making in a Down syndrome mouse model

Behavioral and Neuronal Characterizations, across Ages, of the TgSwDI Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Inter-individual differences in cognitive tasks: focusing on the shaping of decision-making strategies

Handling, task complexity, time-of-day, and sleep deprivation as dynamic modulators of recognition memory in mice

Enhancing sleep after training improves memory in down syndrome model mice

Prof Dr. Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez | Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Best Researcher Award

Asst. Prof. Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez is a neuroscientist at İstanbul Nişantaşı University, specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotection, and the gut-brain axis. She completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Istanbul University in 2013 and has been a faculty member since 2014. Her research spans Alzheimer’s, autism, and Parkinson’s disease, focusing on stem cell therapies and functional foods for cognitive enhancement. She has led TÜSEB-approved projects and holds patents on bioactive functional foods. Aynur teaches Neurology, Cognitive Neurophysiology, and Industrial Biotechnology. She actively contributes to cutting-edge innovations, particularly in prebiotic-microbiota interactions.

Profile

Orcid
Scopus

Education 🎓

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Istanbul University in 2013. Her academic journey emphasized neurobiology, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, and innovative therapeutic strategies. Her doctoral research focused on neuroprotective compounds in Alzheimer’s disease. Before her Ph.D., she pursued studies in molecular biology and biotechnology, refining her expertise in cellular neuroscience. Throughout her education, she collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, integrating neurophysiology with pharmacological advancements. Her postdoctoral research extended into translational neuroscience, bridging laboratory findings with clinical applications. Aynur’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her extensive research on cognitive function, stem cell therapy, and the gut-brain axis.

Experience 👨‍🏫

With over a decade of experience, Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez has been an Assistant Professor at İstanbul Nişantaşı University since 2014. She has led multiple national and international neuroscience projects, including TÜSEB-approved research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Aynur has played a pivotal role in developing functional foods aimed at cognitive enhancement and has secured patents for novel bioactive compounds. She actively collaborates with industry and academia, integrating neuroscience with biotechnology. Her teaching portfolio includes Neurology, Cognitive Neurophysiology, and Industrial Biotechnology. She has also mentored numerous graduate students in neuropharmacology and neurodegenerative research.

Research Interests 🔬

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez’s research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotection, and the gut-brain axis. She explores innovative therapies for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism, with a strong emphasis on stem cell applications. Her work investigates the neuroprotective potential of bioactive compounds and functional foods, aiming to enhance cognitive function. She has pioneered research on the microbiota-brain relationship, particularly the role of prebiotics in neurodegeneration. Aynur’s projects also include SNP-based qPCR diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s risk assessment. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, she integrates neuroscience with biotechnology, advancing the understanding of cognitive disorders and potential therapeutic interventions.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez has received multiple awards for her contributions to neuroscience, including national research grants and innovation awards for her work on functional foods for neuroprotection. She was honored by TÜSEB for her groundbreaking research in stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Her patented functional chocolate enriched with bioactive compounds received recognition for its cognitive benefits. Aynur has also been awarded project grants from TÜBİTAK for her research on neurodegeneration. She has been invited as a keynote speaker at international neuroscience conferences and has been recognized for her contributions to cognitive science.

Publications 📚

Attila Altunel, Aynur Muduroglu-Kirmizibekmez, Alparslan Onder, Ozlem Altunel, Ali
Sever, Ihsan Kara, Efficacy of ACTH therapy in children with Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A retrospective analysis, Epilepsy & Behavior,Vol
165,2025,110308, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.11030
Muduroglu-Kirmizibekmez A, Cati C, Onder A, Aydin S, Kara I. Investigation of the acute
impact of rosemary consumption on brain activity in healthy volunteers. Nutr
Neurosci. 2024 Jul 6:1-12. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2024.2370729. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 38970803.
Biliz Y, Hasdemir B, Başpınar Küçük H, Zaim M, Şentürk AM, Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez
A, Kara İ. Novel N-Acyl Hydrazone Compounds as Promising Anticancer Agents:
Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies. ACS Omega. 2023 May 20;8(22):20073-
20084. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02361. PMID: 37305237; PMCID: PMC10249086.
Aydin S, Erözden AA, Tavşanlı N, Müdüroğlu A, Çalışkan M, Kara İ. Anthocyanin
Addition to Kefir: Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Community Structure. Curr
Microbiol. 2022 Sep 20;79(11):327. doi: 10.1007/s00284-022-03017-x. PMID:
36125585
Altunel Atilla, Müdüroğlu Kirmizibekmez Aynur, Altunel Emine Özlem (2022).
Hypsarrhythmia Paroxysm Intensities that Initiate and Render Physical & Mental
Retardation Irreversible in West Syndrome. International Journal of Neuroscience,
DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2078208 (Publication No: 7685958)

Elsa Pittaras | Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Elsa Pittaras | Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award