Top Researchers
Top Neuroscience Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University for 2026
Virginia Commonwealth University’s recent neuroscience output shows a field that is both broad and connected, spanning clinical questions, molecular mechanisms, and behavioral research. Across the last year, the institution’s work reflects interest in how neural systems intersect with health, disease, and treatment.
Below, you’ll find a closer look at researchers contributing across neurology, molecular biology, epidemiology, physiology, and related areas, along with the themes that appear most often in their recent publications.
Featured Researchers
Ahmed Negida
Ahmed Negida’s recent work at Virginia Commonwealth University connects neurology with epidemiology and public health, with studies on spinal cord stimulation for painful diabetic neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease risk, and early Alzheimer’s prediction from MRI.
Activity over the last year: 12 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- Assessing the Efficacy of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Managing Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Mar 2025)
- Rheumatoid arthritis drugs and the risk of Parkinson’s disease – a meta-analysis (Mar 2025)
- Early Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease from Asymptomatic Individuals Using Structural MRI Neuroimaging Analysis. A Machine Learning-Based Study. (P5-3.016) (Apr 2025)
Nicholas E. Johnson
Nicholas E. Johnson’s publications focus on cellular and molecular neuroscience, molecular biology, and genetics, including microRNA profiles in acute ischemic stroke and biomarker-oriented work in myotonic dystrophy type 1.
Activity over the last year: 10 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
Jasmin Vassileva
Jasmin Vassileva combines epidemiology, experimental and cognitive psychology, and cellular and molecular neuroscience in recent work on impulsivity, opioid use disorder, and neuroscience-informed psychoeducation for addiction.
Activity over the last year: 7 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
Gretchen N. Neigh
Gretchen N. Neigh’s recent publications at Virginia Commonwealth University span behavioral neuroscience, biological psychiatry, and neurology, with attention to early life stress, social isolation, and mental health outcomes linked to inflammation.
Activity over the last year: 8 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- Characterization of inflammatory and neurofunctional markers in the context of early life stress among a clinical sample of people maintained on buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (Jul 2025)
- Social isolation, but not partner separation, lowers hippocampal synaptosome mitochondrial respiration in female California mice (Peromyscus californicus) (Oct 2025)
- The impact of childhood maltreatment, HIV status, and their interaction on mental health outcomes and markers of systemic inflammation in women (Mar 2025)
Daniel H. Coelho
Daniel H. Coelho’s work brings together sensory systems, cognitive neuroscience, and otorhinolaryngology, including studies on secondhand smoke exposure and hearing loss, cochlear implant activation, and olfactory implantation feasibility.
Activity over the last year: 7 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- Exploring the association between secondhand smoke exposure and hearing loss among U.S. nonsmokers (Sep 2025)
- Optimizing Cochlear Implant Activation: A Prospective Patient-Preference Study (Dec 2025)
- The Supraorbital Keyhole Craniotomy Approach for Olfactory Implantation: A Radiological Feasibility Study (Apr 2025)
M. Imad Damaj
M. Imad Damaj’s recent studies in molecular biology, cellular and molecular neuroscience, and physiology examine psilocybin, pain pathways, nicotine reward, and receptor-level mechanisms in mouse models.
Activity over the last year: 8 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- IUPHAR Article: Psilocybin induces long-lasting effects via 5-HT2A receptors in mouse models of chronic pain (Mar 2025)
- Evaluation of the Role of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor-1 in Aromatase Inhibitor Induced Painful-Like Behavior in Mice (Apr 2025)
- Nicotine reward in the conditioned place preference test across a panel of male inbred mice and F1 crosses: genetic influence and correlation with variation in nicotine antinociception (Oct 2025)
Javier González‐Maeso
Javier González‐Maeso’s cellular and molecular neuroscience research at Virginia Commonwealth University centers on psilocybin, the 5-HT2A receptor, opioid reward extinction, and translational effects in neural stem cells.
Activity over the last year: 7 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- IUPHAR Article: Psilocybin induces long-lasting effects via 5-HT2A receptors in mouse models of chronic pain (Mar 2025)
- Sex-specific role of the 5-HT2A receptor in psilocybin-induced extinction of opioid reward (Nov 2025)
- Maternal immune activation imprints translational dysregulation and differential MAP2 phosphorylation in descendant neural stem cells (Feb 2025)
Matthew L. Banks
Matthew L. Banks’ recent output focuses on cellular and molecular neuroscience, toxicology, and physiology, with preclinical studies on cocaine self-administration, cocaine choice, and fentanyl-related behavior in animal models.
Activity over the last year: 6 indexed journal articles.
Top publications:
- Xanomeline treatment attenuates cocaine self-administration in rats and nonhuman primates (Sep 2025)
- Mechanistic and translational insights from preclinical cocaine choice procedures on the economic substitutability of cocaine and nondrug reinforcers (May 2025)
- Fixed-proportion mixtures with the α2-adrenergic agonist clonidine or lofexidine do not alter fentanyl self-administration in non–opioid-dependent male and female rats (Sep 2025)
What Virginia Commonwealth University's Neuroscience Community Is Working On
The strongest pattern across Virginia Commonwealth University’s neuroscience activity is a concentration in cellular and molecular neuroscience, paired with substantial work in molecular biology, neurology, epidemiology, and physiology. That mix suggests an active community asking how neural mechanisms translate into clinical outcomes, from addiction and pain to stroke, hearing, and neurodegenerative disease. The recent publications also point to a strong interest in linking laboratory models with patient-relevant questions, especially where behavior, biomarkers, and treatment response meet.- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience - seen across 5 of the featured researchers
- Molecular Biology - seen across 3 of the featured researchers
- Neurology - seen across 2 of the featured researchers
- Epidemiology - seen across 2 of the featured researchers
- Physiology - seen across 2 of the featured researchers
Taken together, these researchers show a neuroscience community moving between bench, bedside, and population-level questions. If you’re exploring how to organize, format, or submit your own work, Resub can help streamline the research workflow so you can spend more time on the science itself.
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