MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students Stephen Farmer and Vicky Chuong recently returned from Les Diablerets, Switzerland, where they were selected presented their research at the 2025 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior. These events brought together leading neuroscientists and early-career researchers to explore how brain circuits shape behavior — and what happens when those circuits go awry.

The power of neuromodulation and neural networks

Both meetings explore how brain signaling, including neuromodulators, circuit dynamics, and cell-to-cell communication, enables neurons to form and maintain precise connections that are essential for brain function — intricate networks that allow us to process sensory information, regulate emotional responses, make decisions, and adapt to our environment.  

A central goal of the conference is to understand not just how these connections develop and operate under healthy conditions, but also how their breakdown leads to dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric disorders. The meetings bring together insights from molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral neuroscience — highlighting how disruptions at the level of individual cells or synapses can scale up to affect entire brain circuits and ultimately, behavior. 

Farmer’s research: understanding a fatal brain disorder

Farmer is a PhD candidate in the Molecular & Translational Biology and Neuroscience programs whose research focuses on Huntington’s disease, a rare but fatal brain disorder caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene. This mutation results in a toxic form of the huntingtin protein, which is essential for brain health. He studies how the healthy version of this protein supports communication between brain cells, particularly through a recycling process called endolysosomal trafficking. When this process fails, neurons lose their ability to signal properly, leading to individual cell disruption, circuit-level breakdown, and eventually cell death. These changes set off a vicious cycle that drives the progressive motor, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms of HD which currently has no treatments or cures. 

"This inspiring experience helped me think more broadly about my project on how the Huntingtin protein affects trafficking in specific brain cells," said Farmer. "Progressive disruption...compromises cortico-striatal circuits, ultimately leading to the devastating motor, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms of Huntington’s disease."

Farmer’s funding support includes his award of this year's Thomas F Burks Scholarship for Academic merit, the prestigious NINDS F99/K00 D-SPAN Predoc to Postdoc Transition Grant, the Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowship, and the President’s Research Excellence Award. 

Chuong’s research: understanding the neural basis of decision-making

Chuong is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience program, whose research is focused on uncovering how the brain balances between seeking rewards or avoiding threats when faced with competing environmental cues. This is important because the imbalance of these behaviors underlies several neuropsychiatric disorders, in which persistent reward approaching is characteristic in substance use disorders, whereas excessive avoidance to perceived threats is a hallmark of anxiety-related disorders. Vicky has identified neurons in the prefrontal cortex that selectively respond according to behavioral choice. She also observed that increased dopamine release in this brain region is associated with risky decision-making. Vicky hopes that her research will uncover how and when the brain shifts from adaptive to maladaptive decision-making strategies.

“Attending this conference has provided me with the opportunity to connect with leaders in the field of behavioral modulation and receive valuable feedback on my research. Moreover, the unique format of Gordon Research Conferences fosters an intimate setting that encourages in-depth discussions with other scientists. These small group discussions have sparked new ideas in my own research and has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for my research.”

More than science: Gordon Research sessions offer community and collaboration

The GRS is a smaller, trainee-focused meeting, fostering a uniquely collaborative environment among graduate students and postdocs. It is followed by the GRC, where early-career scientists and esteemed leaders from around the world come to share exciting new research. Students have the rare opportunity to engage with global leaders, share new ideas, and begin shaping their future careers.

Farmer noted that the intimate size of the conference, along with the engaging seminars, poster sessions, and shared meals, made it easy to connect with people, network and begin identifying postdoctoral opportunities.