Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain

Dr. Catherine Burrows holds an infant in the MRI Imaging Suite at MIDB, while Dr. Meghan Swanson smiles at them.

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

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.'

🚀 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

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 🧠

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.

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 💡

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.

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.

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.

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

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."

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

Three people, including youth journalist, Dr. Benjamin Clark, and Dr. Dziwe Ntaba, are seated at a table for a podcast recording.

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?...

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.

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...

Thrilled to share that I have been awarded a @bbrfoundation.bsky.social Young Investigator Grant!

Ethics Grand Rounds webinar featuring speaker Sarah Gollust, PhD, on Friday, Oct. 3 from 12-1 p.m. CDT.

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

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

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

Headshot photos of Dr. Mark Schleiss (left) and Dr. Meghan Swanson (right).

🚀 Big news: With a $3.3M NIH grant, MIDB members Meghan Swanson, PhD, and Mark Schleiss, MD, are leading a first-of-its-kind study of infants born with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV).

Learn more ➡️ med.umn.edu/news/univers...

Inspired by a personal health journey, our teammate Russell is competing in the Madison Ironman on Sept. 7 to raise funds for the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.

Join him in supporting brain health ➡️ z.umn.edu/RussellIronmanMIDB

Brain implant lets man 'experience joy' for the first time in decades A device that has been likened to a pacemaker for the brain has given a man with severe depression great relief

Dr. Damien Fair, co-director of MIDB, is part of a team making breakthroughs in mental health. His work is helping to show how a personalized brain "pacemaker" gave a man with severe depression relief, allowing him to experience joy again. Read more ➡️ www.newscientist.com/article/2493...

Graphic with the following text: Research study seeking M/E/D/B (Mental, Emotional, Developmental, and Behavioral Health) child and adolescent providers. Includes a bubble that says "online survey" and the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration and Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain logo.

Are you a provider or care connector? Help us better understand community needs and experiences in accessing children’s mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral health by participating in a series of surveys. Learn more about the research study ➡️ z.umn.edu/BHSurvey

A man (Russell) wearing a light blue button-up shirt, green hiking pants, sunglasses, and a hat smiles at the camera. He is holding two hiking poles and stands on a rocky mountain path. In the background, there is a large, snow-capped mountain peak.

A family of three smiles at the camera for a portrait. A man in a dark blue shirt (Russell) stands on the right, with a woman in a black floral dress on the left. A young girl with reddish-blonde hair stands in front of them, smiling. They are standing in front of a body of water at sunset.

Inspired by a personal health journey, our teammate Russell is competing in the Madison Ironman on Sept. 7 to raise funds for the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.

Join him in supporting brain health ➡️ z.umn.edu/RussellIronmanMIDB

Why menstrual cycle irregularities belong in brain research - Nature Medicine The menstrual cycle requires tight orchestration between the brain and body, and irregularities can be both the cause and the consequence of wide-ranging health issues. Embracing this complexity, inst...

We wrote a piece for @naturemedicine.bsky.social 🧠

Menstrual cycle irregularities can be both cause and consequence of wide-ranging health issues.
Embracing this complexity could reveal novel brain–body interactions and advance neuroscience.

Check out our commentary www.nature.com/articles/s41...

I still get chills

Meet Mike
*30+ years severe depression
*first hospitalized @ 13y
*20 meds
*3 rounds of ECT
*2 near-fatal suicide attempts

Mike felt joy for the first time in decades after we turned on his new brain pacemaker or PACE

see videos, read paper, follow thread
doi.org/10.31234/osf...

The healing benefits of nature Did you know that simply taking a walk in a park can lower your blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol? MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about the mental and physic...

Spending time outside isn’t just enjoyable—it’s good for your health 🌳 Cathy Jordan, PhD, a member of MIDB, joined @mprnews.org to talk about the science behind nature and wellbeing.

Listen here 🎧 www.mprnews.org/episode/2025...

🙌 Shout out to the

ABCD consortium @theabcdstudy.bsky.social

NBDC Data Hub and @lassoinfo.bsky.social cial

@umn-midb.bsky.social and and UMN’s MSI (file-based data host)

NIDA leadership

and all researchers enabling this next wave of discovery.

Start exploring now via 👉 nbdc-datahub.org

Dr. Damien Fair speaking at the Mental Health Action Festival at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. Dr. Fair is accompanied by an interpreter, name unknown.

The Mental Health Action Festival at MIDB was a vibrant celebration of science and community!

Thanks to the CEEd Hub and the Strong Body Strong Mind Foundation, and to all who joined us for performances and meaningful conversations with MIDB experts 🧠

Paper mache dolls displayed in a wooden box with flowers and greenery.

Paper mache crafts displayed in a wooden box with flowers and greenery.

A wall with youth-created artwork pieces, as well as a wooden like sculpture.

Paper mache dolls displayed in a wooden box with flowers and greenery.

This past month, Dr. Katie Cullen hosted a celebration at MIDB for participants of Imagination Central—a research study that incorporated a 9-month weekly arts and science after-school program. Guests enjoyed a short film, conversation & an exhibit of teen-created work! 🎨

The Kindness Chronicles | iHeart We live in a world dominated by stories of divisiveness. The Kindness Chronicles hopes to give the world a dose of the 'Minnesota Nice' it desperately needs. Hosted by Fox Sports North's Kevin Gorg, S...

Dr. Michael Georgieff joined Ken Freed on The Kindness Chronicles to discuss how music literacy shapes brain development in children 🎶

Have a listen ➡️ www.iheart.com/podcast/269-...

Dr. Simacek presents at the 2025 Military Mental Health Conference at Little Falls, Minnesota. She stands beside a podium and gestures while speaking. A screen behind her displays a slide about the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, including a photo of the MIDB building and a diagram of its collaborative focus areas.

Jessica Simacek, PhD, recently presented at the 2025 Military Mental Health Conference in Little Falls, Minn., sharing insights in a talk titled "Improving Access to Pediatric Behavioral Health Care for Military-Connected Children and Families" 🧠

Youth community journalists at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain in Minneapolis.

MIDB is excited to partner with the Strong Body Strong Mind Foundation's Youth Community Journalism Institute on "Brain Health Solutions for All"—a new, youth-led project to make brain science more accessible, inclusive, and community-driven. Learn more ➡️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-p...

A Black woman in military camouflage embraces her young daughter as they look at a laptop together. The woman is smiling warmly and leaning in close, while the girl, wearing a light purple shirt, smiles softly.

April is the Month of the Military Child! Military families often face added challenges when seeking support for developmental, emotional or behavioral health. MIDB is proud to partner with the Department of Defense make care more accessible through telehealth ➡️ z.umn.edu/MIDBDoDStudy