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A compact guide to the human body and how it works, powered by the world-class scientists of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

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How does a brain even happen? 

The cerebellum hasn’t gotten much love from brain scientists historically, but neurobiologists today are discovering how it works to control motor functions, and how problems in that brain region cause movement disorders. Research by Meike van der Heijden, neurobiologist and assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, has found that disorders like dystonia and tremors are connected to changes in how nerve cells in the cerebellum communicate.

Meike van der Heijden, Ph.D.

More About Meike van der Heijden

Van der Heijden is an assistant professor in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Center for Neurobiology Research, where she investigates development of the brain’s cerebellum and disorders that originate there, including dystonia, ataxia, and tremor.

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life.  

The Big Science Small Pod Team