Xufeng Huang | Neuroscience of Obesity and Schizophrenia | Neuroscience Academic Excellence Award

Published on by Neuroscientists

Prof. Dr. Xufeng Huang | Neuroscience of Obesity and Schizophrenia | Neuroscience Academic Excellence Award

University of Wollongong | Australia

Professor Xufeng Huang is an internationally recognised molecular neuroscientist whose research integrates brain biology, metabolism, psychopharmacology, and nutritional science to address major public health challenges. His work has elucidated central molecular mechanisms of diet-induced obesity, including leptin resistance, neural injury, and cognitive decline, and translated these discoveries into preventive and therapeutic strategies. He has led pioneering research on antipsychotic-induced metabolic disorders in schizophrenia, identifying key neurotransmitter and receptor pathways and advancing safer pharmacological and adjunctive interventions. Professor Huang has also driven innovation in functional nutrition, notably the discovery and clinical validation of β-glucan as an effective dietary fibre for metabolic syndrome control, influencing dietary guidelines and policy. With extensive leadership of NHMRC-funded programs and international collaborations, his research spans mechanistic discovery, animal and human studies, and clinical translation. His contributions have shaped evidence-based interventions in brain health, obesity, metabolic disease, and severe mental illness, with sustained impact on clinical practice, policy development, and translational research across Australia and internationally.

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Featured Publications

Development of high fat diet-induced obesity and leptin resistance in C57Bl/6J mice
– S Lin, TC Thomas, LH Storlien, XF Huang, International Journal of Obesity, 2000

Effects of dietary fat types on body fatness, leptin, and ARC leptin receptor, NPY, and AgRP mRNA expression
– H Wang, LH Storlien, XF Huang, American Journal of Physiology–Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2002

Selective antagonist [3H] SR141716A binding to cannabinoid CB1 receptors is increased in the anterior cingulate cortex in schizophrenia
– K Zavitsanou, T Garrick, XF Huang, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2004

Molecular evidence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia
– CS Weickert, SJ Fung et al., Molecular Psychiatry, 2013

Nicole Goff | Neuroscience | Excellence in Research Award

Published on by Neuroscientists

Ms. Nicole Goff | Neuroscience | Excellence in Research Award

MedStar Franklin Square Hospital | United States

Nicole Goff, MSN, RN, is an experienced stroke program navigator and emerging nurse scientist whose research focuses on improving acute stroke identification, response efficiency, and patient outcomes across the continuum of care. Her scholarly work centers on strengthening pre-hospital and in-hospital stroke systems through nurse-led interventions, data-driven quality improvement, and interprofessional collaboration. Nicole has contributed to research on temporal trends in code stroke utilization and the evolving need for mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke, offering insights that support resource allocation and workflow optimization in high-acuity settings. She is also involved in evaluating the clinical implementation of rapid CYP2C19 genotyping to guide antiplatelet therapy across MedStar Health, advancing personalized medicine and precision pharmacotherapy in stroke care. Her first peer-reviewed publication, a feasibility pilot study published in the Journal of Radiology Nursing, assessed a nurse-led BEFAST-based training program for police officers to improve early identification of stroke versus stroke mimics, addressing a critical gap in community-level stroke recognition. Nicole has presented her findings at state, national, and international nursing conferences, highlighting innovations in door-to-needle time reduction, mechanical thrombectomy outcomes, and nurse-led stroke response models. Her research reflects a commitment to improving neurologic emergency care through education, evidence-based practice, and system-level change.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publication

DeRita, N., Schwenk, K., Sims, H., Singh, P., & Woodward, A. (2025). A nurse-led, BEFAST-based training for police officers to improve pre-hospital stroke vs. stroke mimic identification: A pilot feasibility study. Journal of Radiology Nursing.