Investigators and trainees presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, held this year in historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The theme of the meeting was “Neuropsychology in the Age of Innovation.” A central goal of the conference was to encourage submissions from scientists who are pushing the boundaries of neuropsychology through novel methodologies, interdisciplinary collaborations, and participatory action research, while also honoring the scientific history of the discipline.

Kiely N. Bol, Bin Tang, Erin E. Sundermann, Patricia K. Riggs, David J. Moore, Distinct Biomarker Profiles of Cognitive Vulnerabilities in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). International Neuropsychological Society annual meeting, 02-2026.

Victoria O. Chentsova, Crystal X. Wang, Jennifer E. Iudicello, Robert K. Heaton, Igor Grant2 Mariana Cherner. Exploring Associations Between Major Depressive Disorder History, Neurocognitive Deficits, and Assessment of Own Symptoms in People Living With HIV. International Neuropsychological Society annual meeting, 02-5-2026.

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Congratulations to Matteo Peretti on being selected for the Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship! Matteo is a first year PhD student in our San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program. The Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship is part of a major initiative established through a $20M gift from philanthropist Conrad Prebys to SDSU. The gift supports approximately 150 students annually across a range of disciplines including: student veterans, biomedical research, creative and performing arts, guardian scholars, entrepreneurship, leadership and the SDSU honors program. Matteo's scholarship falls under the Biomedical Research category which supports graduate students pursuing careers in biomedical research and biomedical engineering.

HNRP trainees showcase their work at the 2025 Lewis L. Judd symposium. The symposium is named after Lewis L. Judd, M.D. who served as the second Chair of the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry from 1977-2014. Dr. Judd was passionate about educating the next generation of scholars and clinicians. He wished to create an environment where clinician scholars could interact with basic science trainees and faculty to enhance intellectual cross-fertilization. In this way, best practices in psychiatry and mental health were to be developed. To that end he fostered the development of a specific research training program for M.D.’s, Ph.D.’s, and M.D./Ph.D.’s, as well as research tracks in clinical training programs. To recognize the trainees, he inaugurated in 2005 a research symposium to provide a forum for our trainees to showcase their work and to receive feedback.

This annual research symposium has been an important feature in the academic life of the Department of Psychiatry ever since. In recognition of Dr. Judd’s foresight and passion for research education, this symposium was named in his honor in 2014.

The event showcases the research of faculty, trainees, and staff, and includes oral didactic presentations, a keynote speaker, and a poster session. The Symposium is designed to accomplish two important goals: to serve as a forum in which cutting edge research findings are disseminated to the Department and the larger scientific community, and to provide an opportunity for the Departmental community to celebrate the accomplishments of the developing scientists.

Mohammadsobhan S. Andalibi, MD - Plasma Microbiome Composition among Neurobehavioral Phenotypes (NBPs) in People with HIV (PWH)

Victoria O. Chentsova, MS - Chronology Counts: Investigating timing of first major depressive episode in people living with HIV

Tyler Dexter, PhD - Ecstasy (MDMA) increases choices for social rewards in mice – role for the mPFC?

Lilly Ham - Increased Apathy Relates to Reduced Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex to Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex Functional Connectivity among People with HIV and History of Methamphetamine Use

Dafna Paltin, MS - A Community-Centered Research Collaborative to Support the Adoption of Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) 

Maximo Prescott - Self-reported everyday functioning among adults with HIV: Longitudinal associations with global neurocognitive functioning and depressive symptoms

Jake Rattigan - Driving under the influence of beliefs: Assessing the accuracy of cannabis users’ expectations of acute ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol effects with a high-fidelity driving simulator

Jeffrey M. Rogers, MS - Methamphetamine polysubstance in the United States: Prevalences, changes over time, and associations with United States demography

Mira Sur - Driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and perceived effectiveness of law enforcement detection of DUIC

Laura Vilar-Ribó, PhD - Sex-Specific Genetic Architecture and Comorbidities of Alcohol Use Behaviors

Crystal X. Wang, PhD - Dietary markers of neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV

HNRP Investigators presented at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). CROI was established in 1993 to provide a forum for basic scientists and clinical investigators to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and associated diseases. The synergy of basic science and clinical investigation has been a major contributor to the success of the meeting. CROI is the preeminent HIV research meeting in the world and includes up to 4000 HIV research and care leaders internationally. CROI has facilitated the presentation of important discoveries in the field, thereby accelerating progress in HIV and AIDS research.

Azin Tavasoli. Implications of Cognitive Impairment on Antihypertensive Medication Use in HIV. Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2025.

Crystal Wang. Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Links to Slower Psychomotor Speed in Older People with HIV. Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2025.

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