Neuroscientist Wins Grant; Bioengineer Receives Recognition

Dr. Puja Parekh, assistant professor of neuroscience at The University of Texas at Dallas, has received a Young Investigator grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) for her exploration of brain circuits that encode reward and cost-related information to drive behavior.

Parekh’s work focuses on how motivation becomes poorly controlled in animal models relevant to psychiatric conditions including depression. The two-year, $70,000 grant specifically covers an evaluation of the role of a brain region called the nucleus accumbens in effort valuation, a cost-benefit decision-making process, in healthy and stressed states.

The nucleus accumbens is a subcortical brain structure known for its roles in addiction, reward, motivation and pleasure.

“Chronic-stress exposure models the development of reduced motivation and is a significant risk factor for depression, eliciting neural adaptations akin to those found in neuropsychiatric patients,” Parekh said. “Importantly, not all individuals who experience chronic stress are vulnerable to motivational deficits, suggesting an inherent resilience, which may be exploited for therapeutic development.”

Her research will examine differences in the neural activity of the nucleus accumbens in stress-susceptible and stress-resilient animals, while also using RNA sequencing techniques to characterize specific gene expression in these groups.

“We hope our findings will shed light on how the nucleus accumbens contributes to effort valuation, how stress affects its function and whether signatures of resilience can be identified,” she said. “This would provide a clearer understanding of a fundamental neurobiological process supporting behavior.”

Before joining the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences in 2024, Parekh was an instructor of neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.

“Many colleagues and researchers whose discoveries I find most meaningful have been recipients of this award,” she said. “I’m honored to be in their company and receive this critical support from the BBRF for our project.”

The 2025 class of BBRF Young Investigators are early-career scientists pursuing innovative basic, translational and clinical studies in brain and behavior disorders. Since 1987, the BBRF has awarded more than $475 million in research grants to 5,700 scientists worldwide.

Researcher Honored for Wearable Biosensors, Diagnostic Platforms

Dr. Shalini Prasad, professor and department head of bioengineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, received a 2025 Spark Award from the DFW Alliance of Technology & Women for her work to develop wearable biosensors, low-cost diagnostics and real-time detection platforms.

The Spark Awards recognize women leaders across industries who elevate workplaces and drive change in society. Prasad, who won the health care equity award, was one of four leaders who were recognized Sept. 26 at the alliance’s Executive Leadership Forum 2025 at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.

“I am honored to be recognized by the DFW Alliance of Technology & Women for my work in health care equity,” said Prasad, the Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. “Recognizing initiatives, enhancing access, reducing disparities and improving patient care for underserved communities is truly humbling.”

Prasad, who directs the Biomedical Microdevices and Nanotechnology Laboratory at UT Dallas, has led the development of multiple pioneering technologies that use electrochemical sensing for noninvasive detection of infection, blood glucose, and stress and inflammatory markers. Recently, she developed a breath test that can detect compounds linked to lung cancer.

In addition, Prasad has developed first-of-its-kind technology to detect marijuana in saliva and fentanyl in urine, and a groundbreaking sensor that can monitor multiple soil parameters, including total soil carbon, to provide farmers with accurate, real-time, continuous data to improve soil health and productivity.

Prasad, an American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow, is co-founder of Allen, Texas-based EnLiSense, which works to commercialize biosensor technologies.

Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty, students and staff. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.