Integrative function of brain circuits, basic systems neuroscience, team science, species diversity
Karen David currently oversees the Circuits and Integrated Approaches portfolio of the BRAIN initiative. The overall goal of these programs is to understand behavior and function at the level of neural activity and circuits. She also leads the NINDS Interdisciplinary Team Science (RM1) program and manages the BRAIN Initiative K99/R00 awards (NINDS-assigned). She joined NINDS in 2013 and has served the BRAIN Initiative in various capacities over the years including Project Officer, Scientific Review Officer, Program Analyst, and her current role as Program Director. Karen has also worked on various special projects including coordinating the review activities of the Biospecimen Repository Acquisition Committee (BRAC) for the Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers Program. Before joining extramural research, Karen did her postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She earned a B.S. from the University of the Philippines and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.