Friedman Brain Institute

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Friedman Brain Institute The Institute represents a large, multidisciplinary effort involving numerous basic science and clinical departments across Mount Sinai's campuses.

The Friedman Brain Institute is an interdisciplinary clinical and research hub that is defining the mechanisms behind brain and nervous system disorders and translating those findings into preventative or restorative interventions. The Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine is an interdisciplinary clinical and research hub that is defining the mechanisms behind brain and nervous system disorders and translating those findings into preventative or restorative interventions. We focus on genetic, epigenetic, biochemical, cellular, synaptic, circuit, and behavioral dimensions of nervous system functioning under normal and pathological conditions. By taking advantage of the growing body of knowledge about brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system disorders, we are poised to drive revolutionary advances in patient care by developing more effective diagnostic tests, treatments, and preventative measures.

NEW STUDY | OUT NOW!New research shows how ‘reward processing’ varies among 9/11 responders, pointing to potential new t...
09/11/2026

NEW STUDY | OUT NOW!

New research shows how ‘reward processing’ varies among 9/11 responders, pointing to potential new targets for PTSD treatment.

Press Release
👉 https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2026/how-the-brain-anticipates-positive-experiences-may-contribute-to-resilience-after-trauma-study-of-world-trade-center-responders-finds

Reward processing is the brain's system for recognizing positive experiences, motivating behavior, and helping us learn from outcomes that benefit us. These experiences can be either anticipated, or directly experienced.

Psychological factors that rely on intact reward processing and anticipation, including the capacity for positive emotions, optimism, and hope, have long been associated with greater to . However, the brain mechanisms underlying this relationship have rarely been studied.

In this new study, researchers Saren H. Seeley, Adriana Feder, et al. examined brain activity approximately two decades after 9/11, among rescue and recovery workers from the WTC Health Program General Responder Cohort. Participants included individuals with and without chronic WTC-related ( ), as well as responders with varying levels of exposure to potentially traumatic elements of the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath.

“Little is known about brain function during reward anticipation in resilient individuals. This study is unique in its focus on the function of reward circuitry in highly resilient individuals, compared with those with chronic PTSD and lower WTC-exposed controls. All participants were involved in rescue and recovery work following the 9/11 attacks on the WTC, but the severity of exposure varied.” - Dr. Adriana Feder

“We wanted to understand why some World Trade Center responders developed chronic posttraumatic stress disorder, while others maintained good psychological health despite experiencing similar extreme stressors during recovery efforts.” - Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH

Learn More in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
👉 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451902226002089

Differential Reward Circuitry Engagement During Anticipation in Highly Resilient World Trade Center Responders
- Saren H. Seeley, Zoe Schreiber, Agnes Norbury, Laurel S Morris, Elisa Monti, Leah Cahn, Cindy Aaronson, Mary Kowalchyk, Jonathan DePierro, James Murrough, Emily Stern, Dennis S. Charney, Robert Pietrzak, M. Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, Adriana Feder



Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Mount Sinai Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine UCL Stony Brook University James J. Peters VA Medical Center (Bronx, NY) New York University Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research Connecticut VA Healthcare System Yale School of Medicine World Trade Center Health Program

NOT TO MISS! "Rewriting the Future of Serious Mental Illness with the Jeff and Lisa Blau Adolescent Consultation Center ...
09/10/2026

NOT TO MISS! "Rewriting the Future of Serious Mental Illness with the Jeff and Lisa Blau Adolescent Consultation Center for Resilience and Treatment at Mount Sinai"!

The future of mental health is being rewritten. Breakthroughs are creating new possibilities.

This event brings together leaders in psychiatry and technology to discuss what’s next, and what it means for treating mental illness.

Featured speakers will include Dr. Alexander Charney with Dr. Nicole Simons, who will discuss what we know about serious mental illness, how our understanding is changing, and introduce emerging approaches including gene therapy, , and .

Dr. Ben Glicksberg and Dr. Matteo Danieletto will demonstrate vision wearables and discuss how audiovisual data, along with AI analysis, may support clinical assessment and symptom monitoring.

Sandip Trivedi, who built an AI companion chatbot for his brother struggling with a mental health diagnosis, will discuss the app’s development, safety features, and ethical guardrails as it is tested with a larger audience to explore its potential to support people living with and their families.

Finally, Dr. Nicola Cascella and Erin Decker will discuss deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, including a conversation about the experience of undergoing DBS treatment.

This event will take place In-Person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Library and Online on Thursday, Oct 1, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (EDT)
455 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10016

Learn More | Tickets
https://events.leapevents.com/event/blaucentermountsinai/listing



Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Mount Sinai Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine

📣 Eva A. Mistry, MBBS, MSCI, FAHA, Appointed Mount Sinai Health System Chair of Neurology!We are excited to announce tha...
09/10/2026

📣 Eva A. Mistry, MBBS, MSCI, FAHA, Appointed Mount Sinai Health System Chair of Neurology!

We are excited to announce that Mount Sinai Health System has appointed Eva Mistry, MBBS, MSCI, FAHA, an internationally recognized vascular neurologist and clinical investigator, as Chair of the Department of Neurology.

Dr. Mistry will lead neurological care, research, and medical and graduate medical education across the Mount Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Mistry’s research focuses on improving care and outcomes for patients with , including , through innovative clinical trial methods. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and industry partners, her work spans early- and late-phase drug and device development and efforts to address disparities in health care.

As Chair of Neurology at Mount Sinai, Dr. Mistry will oversee comprehensive neurological care, research, and education and training for the next generation of neurologists. Her appointment strengthens Mount Sinai’s commitment to translating advances in neuroscience into innovative treatments and improved patient outcomes.

“Dr. Mistry is an exceptional physician-scientist and leader whose expertise in vascular neurology, clinical research, and innovative approaches to stroke care will be an important addition to Mount Sinai. Her track record of leading transformative clinical trials, mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists, and improving outcomes for patients with cerebrovascular disease aligns strongly with our commitment to advancing neurological care and discovery. We are delighted to welcome her to Mount Sinai.” - Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

“I am honored to join Mount Sinai and lead a department with such a strong tradition of excellence in neurological care, research, and education. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine to build on Mount Sinai’s strengths, advance innovative clinical research, and ensure that our discoveries translate into better outcomes for patients with neurological disease.” - Dr. Eva Mistry.

Press Release | Learn More
👉 https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2026/eva-a-mistry-mbbs-msci-faha-appointed-mount-sinai-health-system-chair-of-neurology



The Mount Sinai Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine

📣Mount Sinai Neurosurgery Resident, Dr. Carina Seah Awarded Prestigious Research Grant!Huge Congratulations to Carina Se...
09/09/2026

📣Mount Sinai Neurosurgery Resident, Dr. Carina Seah Awarded Prestigious Research Grant!

Huge Congratulations to Carina Seah, MD PhD, MSc, PGY-1 Neurosurgery Resident and Instructor of Neuroscience, on receiving a $15,000 Vein of Galen Malformation (VOGM) Research Grant at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).

This competitive grant, co-sponsored by the SNIS Foundation and the VOGM Support Network, supports innovative research focused on improving the understanding and treatment of pediatric vein of Galen malformations (VOGM) and pediatric stroke.

Dr. Seah was recognized for her research project, mentored by Dr. Johanna Fifi, investigating the use of intracerebral liquid biopsy in patients with Vein of Galen malformations.

Conducted through the Mount Sinai Cerebrovascular Center, the study has been analyzing blood samples from patients with VOGM using genetic and transcriptomic profiling. By correlating molecular biomarkers with clinical outcomes, the research aims to identify potential therapeutic targets and generate critical preliminary data to advance the field of pediatric neurovascular disease.

The VOGM Support Network is dedicated to advancing research and improving outcomes for children affected by vein of Galen malformations, with the vision of one day curing VOGM in every newborn, baby, and child diagnosed with this rare condition. Through its partnership with the SNIS Foundation, the organization provides critical support for investigators pursuing innovative approaches to pediatric neurovascular care.

🎉 Again, Congratulations Dr. Seah on this outstanding achievement! We look forward to the impact your research will have on advancing care for children with VOGM.👏

Photo (left to right): Peter Kan, MD, President of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS); Guilherme Dabus, MD, MHL, FACR, FAHA, Immediate Past President of SNIS; Carina Seah, MD, PhD, MSc; Kayla Harriman, VOGM Support Network; Blaise Baxter, MD, President of the SNIS Foundation.

Learn More about The VOGM Support Network
👉 https://vogm.org/

Learn More about SNIS
👉 https://snisonline.org



The Mount Sinai Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine

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