Every semester we are proud to host outstanding seminar speakers.  Seminars will be held in 2117 MERF for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, at 10:30AM on Tuesday dates and 12:30PM on Thursday dates, unless otherwise noted.  If interested in more seminars at The University of Iowa, please visit the Carver College of Medicine's upcoming events.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. 

Fall 2026

DateSpeakerTitleHost
Aug 14, 2026
2:30PM
210 CPB		Yao Chen, PhD, Washington University School of MedicineMolecular Ballet: Decoding Biochemical Signaling Dynamics in the BrainStefan Strack, PhD
Sept 3, 2026Jon Resch, PhD, University of IowaHypothalamic circuitry underlying thirst 
Sept 10, 2026Snehajyoti (Jyoti) Chatterjee, PhD, University of Iowa  
Sept 17, 2026
4:00PM
1110 MERF		Kay Tye, PhD, Salk Institute for Biological StudiesNeural mechanisms of social homeostasisCCOM Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture
Co-Sponsored by the Dept of Neuroscience & Pharmacology and The Michael J. Brody Memorial Lecture
Sept 22, 2026

Kelly Mulfaul, PhD, University of Iowa

Adele Stewart, PhD, University of Iowa

  
Sept 29, 2026Jennie Liu, PhD, TriSalus Life Sciences Bryan Cox, PhD
Oct 27, 2026Adrian L. Oblak, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine Snehajyoti (Jyoti) Chatterjee, PhD
Nov 10, 2026Nicholas Betley, PhD, University of Pennsylvania Jon Resch, PhD
Dec 8, 2026John Campbell, PhD, University of Virginia Jon Resch, PhD

Spring 2026
DateNameTitleHost
Feb 24, 2026Justin Wolter, PhD, University of WisconsinMolecular Determinants of Purkinje Neurodegeneration in ARSACSStefan Strack, PhD
March 10, 2026Lisa R. Beutler, MD, PhD, Northwestern UniversityDissecting the gut-brain dynamics of anorexia and aversionDeniz Atasoy, PhD
April 14, 2026Scott Mittlestadt, PhD

Preclinical Safety in Drug Development

Bryan Cox, PhD
April 21, 2026Annet Kirabo, PhDNeuro-Endocrine-Immune Crosstalk Driving Salt-Sensitive HypertensionKamal Rahmouni, PhD

Fall 2025
DateNameTitleHost
Sept 9, 2025Serena Dudek Sommer, PhD, National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesInsights into hippocampal function from studies on synaptic plasticity in area CA2Snehajyoti Chatterjee, PhD
Sept 11, 2025Songhai Chen, PhD, University of IowaGPCRs in Cancer: Mechanistic Insights and Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities 
Sept 18, 2025Snehajyoti Chatterjee, PhD, University of IowaSpatial transcriptomic and epigenetic signature of the retrosplenial cortex during memory consolidation 
Sept 18, 2025Jon Resch, PhD, University of IowaSalt hunger driven by hindbrain HSD2 neurons: Regulation by aldosterone and afferent control 
Sept 30, 2025Thomas A. Reh, PhD, University of WashingtonStimulating retinal regeneration in mammals by reprogramming glia: it's never too late to change their fateKelly Mulfaul, PhD
Oct 2, 2025Kelly Mulfaul, PhD, University of IowaElucidating immune cell function in retinal degenerative disease 
Oct 14, 2025Katelin Dannen, PhD, University of IowaAccessible Pharmacology 
Oct 14, 2025Adele Stewart, PhD, University of IowaSex- and region-dependent regulation of dopamine reuptake by progesterone receptors 
Oct 16, 2025Mark Andermann, PhD, Harvard Medical SchoolComputing with Second Messenger Signals in the Awake BrainCCOM Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture
Co-Sponsored by the Dept of Neuroscience & Pharmacology and The Michael J. Brody Memorial Lecture
Oct 28, 2025Detlef Obal, MD, PhD, DESA, University of IowaNAMs for Advanced Pharmacogenetics and Personalized Patient Care 
Nov 11, 2025Rong Grace Zhai, PhD, University of ChicagoHarnessing the Power of Drosophila for Therapeutic Discovery for Genetic NeuropathiesSeth Tomchik, PhD
Nov 20, 2025Cynthia Grosskreutz, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical SchoolDrug Development in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - Great ExpectationsBryan Cox, PhD
Dec 9, 2025Habibeh Khoshbouei, PhD, PharmD, University of Florida College of MedicineMidbrain dopamine neuronal activity modulates splenic immunity via a brain–body circuitAdele Stewart, PhD
Dec 16, 2025Vadim Bolshakov, PhD, Mass General Brigham McleanNeuropeptide-mediated gating 
of innate fear circuits		Ted Abel, PhD