Harvard Catalyst Profiles

Dr. Fried’s primary focus is using neuroimaging (MRI, EEG) and noninvasive brain stimulation to characterize the neurophysiology of cognitive aging to distinguish healthy aging from cognitive decline. The long-term goal of his lab is to develop a new class of “neuro-markers” that are sensitive to the neurocogntiive changes in pathological aging to further the development of interventions to promote healthy brain aging. The primary project that a student would be able to support is an investigation of a novel therapy for treating insomnia and improving cognition in older adults living with mild cognitive impairment that combines daily treatments with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with a fully-automated Internet-driven cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) program. Students would have the opportunity to work with a highly-skilled diverse team and engage with participants undergoing a clinical trial. Student will have the opportunity to observe and/or assist with nearly all aspects of the study, including neurological exams, cognitive and behavioral testing, MRI and EEG acquisition, and the application of TMS. Students will also have the opportunity to learn how to analyze TMS-EEG data. The study will be conducted in a dedicated TMS lab within the Clinical Research Center (CRC) and the Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation at BIDMC. Networking, presentation, and publication opportunities will be offered to the accepted student. The student must be able to commit to 30-40 hours/week during the summer program, with the possibility of extending their research experience before and/or after the summer program. The role will include direct interactions with research participants and will require a substantial level of hands-on training in clinical neuroscience techniques.