About the Series
We are pleased to introduce the 2025 SPARC seminar series, highlighting contributions from researchers who share their data and models on the SPARC Portal. This series fosters open science and scientific exchange by exploring key topics in biomedical research.
Upcoming sessions will cover a range of subjects, including genomics, comparative physiology of cardiac ganglia, intra- and inter-subject variability of human vagus nerve anatomy, devices, and in silico modeling.
Join us for these in-depth presentations to advance our understanding of the connections between the body and the brain while leveraging the SPARC Portal's resources to propel your research forward.
Session Schedule
Please visit individual speaker pages to learn more about the programs, data and speaker information.
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
Characterizing novel RNA isoforms using long-read sequencing in the human dorsal root ganglia from organ donors
Presenter: Asta Arendt-Tranholm, PhD
Pain Neurobiology Research Group, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
On the winding road of commercialization of a SPARC supported device.
Presenter: Hans Gregersen, MD, PhD, MPM. CEO,
California Medical Innovations Institute
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
Visual exploration and dynamic interaction for SPARC
Presenter: David Nickerson, PhD
Auckland Bioengineering Institute
Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
Fascicular Organization and Fiber Composition of the Human Vagus Nerve.
Presenter: Naveen Jayaprakash, PhD
Staff Scientist at The Feinstein Institute
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
Differences in the intrinsic cardiac ganglion neurons between species: mice, pigs and humans.
Presenter: John Tompkins, PhD
University of California Los Angeles
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2025, 11:00-12:00PM ET
Interrogating the physiology of the human vagus nerve via intraneural microelectrodes
Presenter: Vaughan G Macefield, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, Monash University
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 11:00-12:00PM ET
In silico safety assessment of neural interfaces
Presenters: Esra Neufeld, PhD, Antonio Mario Cassarà, PhD, & Javier García Ordóñez, PhD
The IT’IS Foundation
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
Creating and exploring a knowledgebase of peripheral nervous system connectivity.
Presenter: Susan Tappan, PhD & Maryann Martone, PhD.
Rock Maple Science & UCSD
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 11:00AM-12:00PM ET
Gene Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Presenter: Brendan Lee, MD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 3:00-4:00PM ET
