Jennifer Gelinas, MD, PhD

Jennifer Gelinas, MD, PhD

Research Interest

Epilepsy is more than just seizures.

Children and adults with epilepsy often experience problems with intellectual development, learning, memory, and attention – symptoms that can sometimes be even more disabling than seizures. In our lab, we study neural networks that mediate these cognitive functions in developing and mature brains. By understanding the physiology of these networks and how they are disrupted by epileptic activity, we work toward targeted treatments that aim not only to stop seizures, but also to address cognitive comorbidities. We pursue research projects in 3 main axes:

EPILEPSY AND MEMORY
We use memory tasks and large-scale neural recordings in behaving rodents to understand the interplay between epileptic activity and memory. We also use closed loop technologies to perturb these neural networks with the goal of altering memory function.

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
We perform multi-cortical neurophysiologic recordings in wild type neonatal and juvenile rodents as well as those harboring mutations associated with epilepsy, autism, and intellectual disability to understand the unique features of these neurodevelopmental disorders.

DEVICES AND COMPUTATION FOR EPILEPTIC NETWORKS
We develop computational approaches to interictal epileptic networks using intracranial EEG data from patients with epilepsy, and leverage advanced neural interface devices to gain higher spatiotemporal resolution data from these networks.

  • MD, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine (Canada)
  • PhD, University of Alberta (Canada)
  • Residency: British Columbia Children's Hospital, Canada
  • Fellowship: New York University Langone Medical Center, Neuroscience Institute
  • Fellowship: New York University Langone Medical Center

Science mentor for Independent Science Program (high school level), 2015-2016

NYU Neuroscience Outreach Organizer and Volunteer, 2014-2015

Science Mentor for i2 Science Challenge Program, 2013-2014

Laboratory Coordinator for CRISP (Clinically Rich Integrated Science Program), 2013-2014

Resident Lecturer at Neurology Academic Half-Day, University of British Columbia, 2011-2013

Neurology Resident Advisor for Pediatric Clerkship e-Health Initiative, University of British Columbia, 2010-2011

Teaching Assistant for Pediatrics Resident Half-Day, University of British Columbia, 2010-2011

Resident research curriculum development (Child Neurology)

Supervision of medical students, residents, and fellows

Laura MacRae Award, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, Award for Excellence in Pediatric Medicine, 2013

Taking Flight Award, CURE Epilepsy

School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Seed

Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholar

Hassan A, Zhao Z, Ferrero JJ, Cea C, Jastrzebska-Perfect P, Viswanathan A, Sheth SA, Khodagholy D, Gelinas JN (2022) Translational organic neural interface devices at single neuron resolution. Advanced Science.

M. S. Ejneby, M. Jakešová, J. Ferrero, L. Migliaccio, I. Sahalianov, Z. Zhao, M. Berggren D. Khodagholy, V Đerek, J.N. Gelinas E.D. Głowacki. "Chronic electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves via deep-red light transduced by an implanted organic photocapacitor." Nature Biomedical Engineering (2021).pdf

S. Dominguez, L. Ma, H. Yu, G. Pouchelon, C. Mayer, G.D. Spyropoulos, C. Cea, G. Buzsáki, G. Fishell, D. Khodagholy*, J.N. Gelinas*, "A transient postnatal quiescent period precedes emergence of mature cortical dynamics", eLife, (2021) .pdf

Zhao Z, Cea C, Gelinas JN, Khodagholy D* (2021) Responsive manipulation of neural circuit pathology by fully implantable, front-end multiplexed embedded neuroelectronics. PNAS, Vol. 118, No. 20. PDF

​Jastrzebska-Perfect P, Chowdhury S, Spyropoulos G, Zhao Z, Cea C, Gelinas JN*, Khodagholy D* (2020) Translational neuroelectronics. Advanced Functional Materials, 1909165. PDF

​​Jastrzebska-Perfect P, Spyropoulos G, Cea C, Zhao Z, Rauhala O, Viswanathan A, Sheth SA, Gelinas JN*, Khodagholy D* (2020) Mixed-conducting particulate composites for soft electronics. Science Advances, eaaz676. PDF Video

Cea C, Spyropoulos G, Jastrzebska-Perfect P, Gelinas JN*, Khodagholy D (2020) Enhancement mode ion-based transistor – comprehensive interface for in vivo electrophysiology. Nature Materials. PDF ​Video

​Spyropoulos G, Savarin J, Gomez E, Simon D, Berggren M, Gelinas JN, Stavrinidou E, Khodagholy D (2019) Transcranial electrical stimulation and recording of brain activity using freestanding plant-based conducting polymer hydrogel composites. Advanced Materials Technologies, 1900652. PDF

​Rauhala O, Dominguez S, Spyropoulos G, Ferrero-Lopez J, Boyers T, Jastrzebska-Perfect P, Cea C, Zhao Z, Khodagholy D, Gelinas JN (2019) Chitosan-based, biocompatible, solution processible films for in vivo localization of  neural interface devices. Advanced Materials Technologies, 1900663. PDF

​Dahal P, Ghani N, Flinker A, Dugan P, Friedman D, Doyle W, Devinsky O, Khodagholy D, Gelinas JN (2019) Interictal epileptiform discharges shape large-scale intercortical communication, Brain, 0:awz269, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz269 PDF

​Spyropoulos G, Gelinas J, Khodagholy D (2019). Internal-ion gated organic electrochemical transistor: a building block for integrated bioelectronics. Science Advances, 5:eaau7378. PDF

​Nguyen PV, Gelinas JN (2018) Noradrenergic gating of long-lasting synaptic potentiation in the hippocampus: from neurobiology to translational biomedicine. Journal of Neurogenetics, 32:171-182. PDF

​Gelinas JN, Baillet S, Bertrand O, Galvan A, Kolling T, Lachauz JP, Lindenberger U, Ribary U, Sawa A, Uhlhaas P (2018) Late adolescence: critical transitions into adulthood; In: Emergent brain dynamics: prebirth to adolescence, edited by A. A. Benasich and U. Ribary. Strüngmann Forum Reports, vol. 25, J. Lupp, series editor. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. PDF

​Khodagholy D*, Gelinas JN*, Buzsaki G (2017) Learning-enhanced coupling between ripple oscillations in association cortices and hippocampus. Science 358:369-372. PDF

​Gelinas JN, Khodagholy D, Thesen T, Devinsky O, Buzsaki G (2016) Interictal epileptiform discharges induced hippocampal-cortical coupling in temporal lobe epilepsy. Nat Med 22: 641–648. PDF

​Khodagholy D*, Gelinas JN*, Zhao Z*, Yeh M, Long M, Greenlee JD, Doyle W, Devinsky O, Buzsáki G (2016) Organic electronics for high-resolution electrocorticography of the human brain. Science Advances 09 Nov 2016: DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601027 PDF

​Watson BO, Levenstein D, Greene JP, Gelinas JN, Buzsáki G (2016) Network homeostasis and state dynamics of neocortical sleep. Neuron, S0896-6273(16)30056-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.03.036. PDF

​Krook-Magnusson E*, Gelinas JN*, Soltesz I, Buzsaki G (2015) Neuroelectronics and biooptics: closed-loop technologies in neurological disorders. JAMA Neurol 72:823-9. PDF

​Khodagholy D, Gelinas JN, Thesen T, Doyle W, Devinsky O, Malliaras G, Buzsaki G (2015) NeuroGrid: recording action potentials from the surface of the brain. Nat Neurosci 18:310-5. PDF

  • Developmental neurophysiology 
  • Epilepsy and cognitive disorders