Zara Greenbaum
Zara Greenbaum is the communications manager for the USC Mary and Mark Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She recently graduated from the master’s program in specialized journalism at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Stories by Zara Greenbaum:

USC institute launches worldwide study of Parkinson’s disease
The $3 million study will unite researchers and data from 20 countries to answer some of the most pressing questions about Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers investigate the environment’s role in brain health
USC is pooling thousands of brain scans to understand how aspects of our physical space — including air pollution, noise and green space — may impact our risk for various developmental, neurodegenerative and psychiatric problems.

Multi-continental study examines brain scans of HIV-positive patients
By analyzing MRI data from patients around the globe, USC researchers are learning how HIV can lead to cognitive challenges, especially as the brain ages.

Mapping a life’s worth of changes in a mysterious brain structure
A five-year, $1.4 million study led by USC researchers will investigate the role of perivascular spaces in brain function across the human lifespan.

Funding backs a new generation of tools for computational neuroimaging
The grant, which provides up to five years of funding, will help develop computational tools to make neuroimaging both more powerful and more useful.

USC leads new artificial intelligence study of Alzheimer’s disease
A $17.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will fund an AI-powered study of genetic, imaging and cognitive data collected from Alzheimer’s patients.

Restricted blood flow in the brain could be tied to Alzheimer’s
A USC research team has found strong evidence that keeping blood vessels healthy can help prevent cognitive decline.

USC scientists launch data archive to bolster COVID-19 research
The COVID-19 Data Archive will aggregate the results of studies from around the world, allowing researchers to freely access international findings and further understand this disease.

World’s largest study of a rare genetic disorder offers new insights on schizophrenia
USC researchers are investigating 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic disorder linked to schizophrenia, in an effort to find a biomarker of the serious mental illness.

Augmented reality app adds interactive enhancements to scientific posters, presentations
A new smartphone app created by USC scientists uses augmented reality to visualize scientific data via 3D models and video.
USC institute launches a global study of how the brain ages
The ENIGMA World Aging Center will help pinpoint factors that contribute to healthy aging versus those that increase a risk for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

FDA approves brain scanner for clinical use at USC
The 7T Terra MRI scanner at USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute will augment care for patients with Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

USC students start their own support network: TrojanSupport
Peer support group started by students for students lifts those who want a conversation with someone their own age.

Institute gets millions for research on Alzheimer’s disease, brain mapping and more
Federal grants support several projects, including a new archive for nationwide data sharing.

Virtual reality tool designed at USC corrects errors in brain scan data
The Virtual Brain Segmenter turns a tedious step in the scientific process into an immersive experience.

MRI resolution enhanced at cellular level in key USC study
The Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute’s research will let clinicians evaluate the effectiveness of cell-based therapies used to treat various cancers.

New MRI scanner could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors
Keck School of Medicine of USC surgeon and radiologist team up to test a new ultrahigh field imaging technology.

Shared database of brain images aims to boost stroke patients’ recovery
Brain scans from stroke patients are being downloaded by researchers around the world to predict the most efficient therapies.

USC joins national group in search for signs of dementia’s onset
Consortium looks at biological factors that can predict health outcomes as part of a five-year study.

Multiple forms of epilepsy share similar underpinnings, study finds
Thousands of brain scans are studied to better understand patterns of differences in one of the largest imaging studies to date.

Big data study at USC to investigate link between gender and Alzheimer’s risk
The National Institutes of Health-funded research at several departments will use existing data to explore the issue.

Brain cell study at USC gets $19 million National Institutes of Health grant
Researchers will identify and catalog each cell type in finer detail than ever before.

USC seeks a better understanding of Alzheimer’s among Latinos
Arthur Toga joins other researchers on the five-year study backed by a $12 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

New job, heady assignment: Trojan volunteers to have her brain examined
Employee offers a first-person account of two brain scans taken at the USC Mary and Mark Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute.