We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the WYLD–AAIC Fellowships, which provided early-career researchers in dementia the opportunity to attend the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025 in Toronto, Canada.
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science and clinical practice. Each year, it brings together thousands of researchers, clinicians, and dementia professionals from all career stages to share breaking research discoveries and clinical practice education that will lead to improvements in diagnosis, risk reduction, and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
For the 2025 edition in Toronto, Canada, the World Young Leaders in Dementia (WYLD), in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association, awarded fellowships to support the participation of outstanding early-career researchers.
Four outstanding WYLD members were selected through a competitive process, recognized for the quality, innovation, and impact of their abstracts submitted to the conference.
- Suelyn Koerich
- Micaela María Arruabarrena
- Laiss Bertola
- Marina Scop Medeiros
These fellowships not only recognize the remarkable contributions of these young professionals, but also provide them with a unique opportunity to present their work, connect with global experts, and strengthen collaborations that can shape the future of dementia care and research.
Read more about the profiles of our fellowship awardees below.
Suelyn Koerich
Suelyn is a postdoctoral researcher in Neuroscience at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she studies how immune-inflammatory processes affect brain function in Alzheimer’s disease. Her work focuses on using plasma exchange—a non-drug intervention—to reduce harmful proteins and inflammation. Through cutting-edge techniques like two-photon imaging and virtual reality in mice, she explores how these interventions can protect brain health.
“WYLD empowers me to strengthen my commitment to research and allows me to contribute to positive change in the field of neuroscience on a broader, global scale”, she shared.
Micaela María Arruabarrena
Micaela is a neuropsychologist and researcher in the Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology at Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology with a focus on Applied Cognitive Neuroscience at Maimonides University. Her research centers on the study of ageism and its relationship with mild cognitive impairment.
“Being part of WYLD means growth — not just professionally, but personally. It’s about learning from others, being challenged by new perspectives, and building meaningful connections that inspire me to keep improving and innovating in the field of dementia”, she shared.
Laiss Bertola
Laiss is a postdoctoral scholar from Brazil whose research explores neuropsychology and global brain health. Currently, she analyzes longitudinal cognitive data from the ELSA-Brasil study, focusing on intracognitive variability and cognitive frailty over time. Her work aims to uncover early indicators of cognitive decline and shed light on the dynamic changes in cognitive function within individuals.
“Being part of the WYLD means learning with the leaders and colleagues and contributing to the dementia field by exchanging ideas and projects to promote collaboration and advances in the field,” Laiss shared.
Marina Scop Medeiros
Marina is an MD and neurologist from Brazil, currently pursuing her PhD. She is working at the University of Pittsburgh as a Postdoctoral Associate. Her research focuses on the use of Tau PET imaging for the biological staging of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as exploring different criteria for clinical staging—work that aims to bridge the gap between biological markers and clinical diagnosis.
“For me, being part of WYLD means validation,” Marina shared. “It means that I am moving in the right direction, and I feel part of a community that shares the same goals.”
Congratulations to Suelyn, Micaela, Laiss, and Marina!
Next time, it could be you! Become a WYLD member and stay tuned for updates so you don’t miss the chance to take part in opportunities like this.
