Aryn Gittis Named a Finalist for a Prestigious Prize in Neuromodulation

Aryn H. Gittis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, has been named a finalist for the Science & PINS Prize for Neuromoduation for her research on Parkinson’s disease.

The prize honors scientists for their excellent contributions to neuromodulation research. Neuromodulation is any form of alteration of nerve activity through the delivery of physical (electrical, magnetic, optical) stimulation to targeted sites of the nervous system. It is presented by Science magazine and the Beijing PINS Medical Equipment Company and China.

Gittis is being honored for her discovery of a class of neurons that could be targeted and stimulated to restore movement to Parkinson’s disease patients. Her research has proven effective in mice. As a finalist, Dr. Gittis will have an essay published in Science magazine and become eligible for the $25,000 grand prize.

Dr. Gittis holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.