# Bertarelli Program in Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering About The Bertarelli Program is based at [Harvard Medical School](https://hms.harvard.edu/). Our goal is to begin to bridge the existing gap between basic and translational neuroscience, by supporting basic and clinical research oriented towards translational opportunities, and by training the next generation of leaders in the field. Through the generosity of the [Bertarelli Foundation](https://www.fondation-bertarelli.org/) in Switzerland, the [École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)](https://www.epfl.ch/) annually selects five students to perform their master's research in [Harvard Medical School (HMS)](https://hms.harvard.edu/) or HMS-affiliated labs over a twelve-month period. The students are funded throughout their stay and bring an additional $10,000 research allowance to the lab. The Bertarelli Fellows master's research program was conceived with neuro-engineering and translational neuroscience in mind (such as neural prosthetics), but can be construed to include broad areas of molecular, cellular, systems and computational neuroscience. The students will be engaged in research for at least 75% of their time while at [Harvard Medical School](https://hms.harvard.edu/), with the remaining time dedicated to other educational opportunities. [### Riccardo Carpineto ](/people/riccardo-carpineto)John Assad, Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology, HMS Project Title: Dynamics of Inititation of Voluntary Movement in the Superior Colliculus in the Mouse Model Project Summary: Voluntary movements, which are actions initiated without direct external stimuli, remain a central question in motor neuroscience. Unlike reactive movements, the timing of self-initiated actions must emerge from internal neural dynamics... ![Riccardo Carpineto](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-01/photo_Carpineto.jpg?itok=XuLVoUXF) [### Gabriele Dall'Aglio ](/people/gabriele-dallaglio)Evan Macosko, Ph.D., Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT Project Title: Spatial Resolution of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Striatal Vulnerability in XD Project Summary: X-linked dystonia–parkinsonism (XDP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder found almost exclusively in the Philippines, caused by a mutation in the TAF1 gene. The disease devastates the striatum (particularly medium spiny neurons) leading... ![Gabrielle Dall'Aglio](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-01/photo_DallAglio.jpeg?itok=9OF4PjrU) [### Alexis Cogne ](/people/alexis-cogne)Conor J. Walsh, Ph.D., Biodesign Lab, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Project Title: Breaking the Cycle of Learned Non-Use: Wearable Digital Interventions for Upper-Limb Recovery After Stroke Project Summary: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with upper-limb motor impairments affecting a large proportion of survivors. As populations age and the prevalence of risk factors increases, the incidence of stroke is expected... ![Alexis Cogne](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-10/Photo_Cogne.jpg?itok=qJk8yofs) [### Gregor Dederichs ](/people/gregor-dederichs)Paola Arlotta, Ph.D, Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology, HMS Project Title: Network Dynamics in Human Cortical Organoid Models of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Project Summary: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is prevalent and complex neurological disorder, characterised by a spectrum of cognitive, social, and communicative challenges first manifested in early childhood. Unique to every patient, ASD has a strong... ![Gregor Dederichs](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/photo_Dederichs.JPG?h=e4c98757&itok=Ce8XanY0) [### Penghui Du ](/people/penghui-du)Randy Buckner, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Harvard Project Title: Evaluating Personalized and Standard Targeting Strategies for TMS in Depression Project Summary: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a standard treatment for depression, with target location traditionally determined by empirical rules or group-level functional connectivity combined with individual structural MRI. However... ![Penghui Du photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-03/photo_PenghuiDu.png?h=16ae5e15&itok=THXLz9DZ) ## Contact [### David P. Corey ](/people/david-corey) [david\_corey@hms.harvard.edu](mailto:david_corey@hms.harvard.edu)Bertarelli Professor of Translational Medical Science Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Neurobiology, Goldenson 443b 220 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02115 p: (617) 432-2506 ![David Corey](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/bertarelli/files/coreyphoto.jpg?itok=0CaqHC0E) [### Gail Rock Townsend ](/people/gail-rock-townsend) Manager, Bertarelli Program Harvard Medical School Department of Neurobiology, Goldenson 443a p: (617) 432-2507 ![Gail Rock Townsend photo](/sites/g/files/omnuum5331/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/bertarelli/files/gailwepfl_1.jpg?itok=zitMCK7f) ## Recent News [### Welcome to our new Bertarelli Fellows! ](/news/welcome-our-new-bertarelli-fellows) March 09, 2026 [### Former Bertarelli-funding investigator published paper on successful gene therapy treatment of deafness in humans ](/news/former-bertarelli-funding-investigator-published-paper-successful-gene-therapy) January 24, 2024 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/news)