Brandon El-Jurdi

My name is Brandon El-Jurdi, I am an undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Chemistry and Biology for Health Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga. My current research with Professor John Ratcliffe focuses on the neuroanatomy of large predatory bats, where I am creating the first atlas of their brain structures and investigating differences, similarities, and regional densities. The application of this work aims to connect neural anatomy to behaviours seen within each species. 

I am particularly interested in the neuronal connections underlying human brain function and disease. Through the Amgen Scholars Program, I am excited to join Dr. Stefanovic's lab at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to explore the interaction between local neuronal activity and the surrounding vasculature. This experience will deepen my understanding of the human brain in both health and disease, with a focus on its clinical applications.