Current Trainees
Nadine Mansour, PhD
Training Period: 2025–Present
Faculty Mentors: Ann Parr, MD, PhD, and Manda Keller-Ross, PhD
Dr. Mansour investigates the use of cervical epidural spinal cord stimulation to improve motor and autonomic function following spinal cord injury. Her research focuses on the CE-STAND clinical trial, which evaluates the safety and potential benefits of spinal cord stimulation for individuals living with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries.
Publications & Research Outputs
- Published: Clinical trial study protocol for CE-STAND, published in BMJ Open.
- Clinical Research: CE-STAND: Cervical Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06410001).
Past Trainees
Mattea Allert, PhD
Training Period: 2024–2026
Faculty Mentors: Matthew Johnson, PhD, and Leonardo Almeida, MD
Current Position: Clinical Research Scientist II, Abbott
LinkedIn: View Profile
Dr. Allert developed computational and data-driven approaches to optimize deep brain stimulation for individuals with essential tremor. Her research focused on identifying stimulation settings that improve therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects. Following her fellowship, she transitioned into a clinical research role at Abbott, where she contributes to first-in-human clinical trials and the development of new medical technologies.
Publications & Research Outputs
- In Preparation: Five manuscripts related to her research, including four first-author papers.
- Clinical Research: Algorithms for Programming DBS Systems for Essential Tremor (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03984643).
- Research Presentations: Presented at eight conferences and symposia during her fellowship.
Elizabeth Bottorff, PhD
Training Period: 2023–2025
Faculty Mentors: Theoden Netoff, PhD, and David Darrow, MD
Position: Research Associate, Hennepin County Medical Center
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Dr. Bottorff investigated spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation approaches to improve pelvic organ and sexual function following spinal cord injury. During her fellowship, she gained experience leading clinical research and developing regulatory protocols. She received a $400,000 grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to continue her research and has pursued entrepreneurial efforts to develop neuromodulation technologies for women's health.
Publications & Research Outputs
- Published: Several peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- In Preparation: Additional manuscripts based on her clinical studies.
- Clinical Research: Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage (E-STAND; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03026816).
- Research Funding: $400,000 Craig H. Neilsen Foundation grant supporting continued spinal cord stimulation research.
Grace Conchas, AuD
Training Period: 2022–2024
Faculty Mentors: Hubert Lim, PhD, and Peggy Nelson, PhD
Position: Research Professional 5, University of Minnesota
Research Profile: SONIC Lab – University of Minnesota
Dr. Conchas focused on developing and evaluating neuromodulation approaches for tinnitus and chronic lower back pain. Through her fellowship, she gained experience in clinical trial design, participant recruitment, and research data collection. She continues to advance neuromodulation research at the University of Minnesota, including leading clinical study activities investigating novel stimulation approaches for back pain.
Publications & Research Outputs
- Manuscript Pending Submission: Results from a tinnitus neuromodulation research project.
- Conference Presentation: "Tinnitus Clinical Research: Challenges with Recruitment, Eligibility, and Symptom Variability" — Association for Research in Otolaryngology.
- Oral Presentation: "Pilot Tinnitus Study Investigating Bimodal Neuromodulation with Virtual Sessions and Additional User-Controlled Settings" — Tinnitus Research Initiative and CATSS Symposium.
- Clinical Research: Neuromodulation study investigating lower back pain (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06619418).
Jessica Froula, PhD
Training Period: 2024–2026
Faculty Mentors: Luke Johnson, PhD, and Michael Howell, MD
LinkedIn: View Profile
Dr. Froula studies sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease and how deep brain stimulation affects sleep physiology. Her research includes using neural activity to identify sleep stages and better understand the relationship between stimulation and sleep. She is also active in science communication, translating complex neuroscience research for broader audiences.
Publications & Research Outputs
- Published: Froula JM, Rose JJ, Krook-Magnuson C, Krook-Magnuson E. (2024). Distinct Functional Classes of CA1 Hippocampal Interneurons Are Modulated by Cerebellar Stimulation in a Coordinated Manner. Journal of Neuroscience, 44(49).
- In Preparation: "Sleep Stage Decoding in Parkinson's Disease Using Pallidal Oscillatory Activity" — first-author manuscript, with submission planned for spring 2026.
- Clinical Research: Sleep-specific DBS Therapy in Parkinson's Disease (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05962489).
- Science Communication: Contributor to Parkinson's Pulse and Cogbites.
Brenna Knaebe, PhD
Training Period: 2024–2026
Faculty Mentors: Alik Widge, MD, PhD, and Mark Thomas, PhD
Research Profile: Experts@Minnesota
Dr. Knaebe investigates how neuromodulation can influence neural circuits and synaptic plasticity. Her research includes closed-loop stimulation approaches and the effects of deep brain stimulation on prefrontal brain networks. She also contributes to clinical research exploring deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Publications & Research Outputs
- In Preparation: Manuscript examining how deep brain stimulation targets within the anterior limb of the internal capsule differentially modulate regions of the prefrontal cortex.
- Research Development: Developed tools for large-scale evoked-potential analysis using electrocorticography (ECoG) and depth electrode arrays.
- Clinical Research: Participated in studies investigating deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder at the University of Minnesota.