Category: SharkBytes

Dr. Mohammad Golam Sabbir, an assistant professor in Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, is working to uncover new ways to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

With support from Miami-based biotech company Curallux, LLC, he is studying how brain cells lose the ability to communicate as the disease advances and exploring therapies that could protect memory and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of Americans, gradually eroding memory, thinking, and independence.

Dr. Sabbir’s research focuses on a key brain receptor involved in memory, which is often lost early in the disease. His findings suggest that treatments aimed only at boosting brain chemicals may not be an effective therapeutic strategy for many patients, pointing to the need for new strategies that restore the brain’s natural signaling pathways. One promising approach Dr. Sabbir is investigating is photobiomodulation, a non-invasive therapy using low-level red or near-infrared light to stimulate biological processes in cells and tissues.

By combining this with strategies to restore critical brain receptors, his work aims to protect neurons, slow cognitive decline, and bring the field closer to more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s patients.

Explore Dr. Sabbir’s research publications here.

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology proudly announces that its grant-sponsored program, Project RISE, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Founded by Dr. David Reitman, Professor of Psychology at NSU’s College of Psychology, Director of the ADHD Assessment Consultation and Treatment (AACT) Program, and Project RISE Project Director, and in collaboration with Fischler College of Education’s Drs. Dana Mills, James Pann, and Marcelo Castro, this initiative has spent the last 20 years providing “Research, Inspiration, Support, and Evaluation” to after-school providers in Miami-Dade County.

Dr. Reitman began working with The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County in 2004 alongside several other organizations to develop and implement a system of quality improvement to support their funded K-5 after-school programs. Through discussions with local providers and national researchers in learning and childcare, Project RISE was born.

Now in its 20th year, Project RISE has trained more than 5000 youth development (YD) workers serving youth in grades K-12 to enhance the quality of after-school and summer programs. Project RISE creates and delivers online trainings and facilitates peer learning concerned with program management, literacy, and fitness. Instructional coaches provide YD workers with on-site guidance to support struggling readers, enhance fitness activities, and improve homework assistance practices.

More recent initiatives have focused on supporting social emotional learning and providing consultation and program evaluation assistance to the Trust’s staff and administrators. Project RISE has received over 10 million dollars of funding since its inception in 2005.

For more information on Project RISE, please visit here or call Dr. Diana Lores, Program Director at 954-262-5756.

Dr. Michael Voltaire, associate professor in the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, has authored a new book titled Developmental Trajectories, Diagnosis, and Interventions for Autism.

With autism diagnoses on the rise — now estimated by the CDC to affect 1 in 34 children in the U.S., compared to 1 in 150 in 2000 — this timely book addresses some of the most pressing questions surrounding the condition, including its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. What sets this book apart from the hundreds of others on the topic is its unique application of a developmental psychopathology framework.

Dr. Voltaire examines autism across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains, comparing typical and atypical developmental patterns to help clinicians and caregivers recognize early warning signs and understand the broader impact of autism across the lifespan. Structured in four comprehensive parts, the book delves into the history and evolution of autism, the science behind its causes, advancements in diagnostic tools, and a wide range of intervention options.

This accessible and research-informed resource is ideal for parents, clinicians, educators, and researchers seeking deeper insight into the complexities of autism. Learn more here.

Dr. Zila Martinez-Lozada, a new faculty member in Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, has been named a Rising Star by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).

This is a prestigious honor awarded to only 19 early-career neuroscientists around the world. Dr. Martinez-Lozada is the only recipient from the U.S., underscoring NSU’s contribution to advancing neuroscience on a global stage. The IBRO Rising Stars Award recognizes and supports promising neuroscientists at the start of their careers by providing resources that advance their research, expand their technical capabilities, and elevate their global visibility in the field.

For Dr. Martinez-Lozada, the award will fund a new line of research that explores the molecular mechanisms guiding the migration of astrocyte precursor cells. Astrocytes are the most abundant yet historically overlooked cells in the central nervous system. Long viewed primarily as support cells, astrocytes play critical roles in maintaining the blood-brain barrier, regulating neurotransmitters, supporting synapse function, and influencing cognition and memory.

Their involvement in nearly all neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions makes them an essential yet understudied frontier in neuroscience. With the support of the IBRO award, Dr. Martinez-Lozada hopes to shed new light on these vital cells and their role in brain development and disease. Learn more about the IBRO Rising Stars Award and see the full list of recipients here.