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It is estimated that 1.3 million people in the UK are living with brain injuries. Globally, TBI affect 10 million people annually.

These conditions can result in long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities affecting every aspect of daily life. Brianna Austin’s research aims to understand the brain's capacity for recovery after injury and identify ways to predict and improve outcomes for traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors.

Brianna is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Brain Sciences at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ and a President’s PhD Scholarship recipient. She is also championing underrepresented voices in science: she co-created the Craving Clarity podcast, producing 20 episodes that highlight marginalised perspectives in addiction neuroscience.

“You cannot be truly knowledgeable if you do not wish to hear from other sources,” said Brianna, and we spoke with her about her journey into neuroscience, her groundbreaking PhD research, and her commitment to making the field more inclusive.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself – your research interests and career path?

I am a first year PhD student at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ. I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience BSc (Hons) at Queen Mary University of London, followed by an MSc in Translational Neuroscience at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ.

During my undergraduate degree, I worked at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health on the Automated Brain Image Analysis for Timely and Equitable Dementia Diagnosis study, focusing on data curation. After completing my Master's, I joined the Addiction team at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ as a Research Assistant, where I not only worked on publishing my MSc dissertation but also gained experience with ethics protocols, expanding my computational analyses to larger datasets, and presenting findings at conferences.

I would describe my research interests as centred on understanding how the brain responds after injury or challenge, and exploring ways to better characterise, support, or even potentially restore its functions. I am particularly interested in applying computational methods to study the relationships between brain and behaviour in neurological populations, and ultimately using this knowledge to inform more effective interventions that can improve outcomes for those affected.

Congratulations on being awarded the President's PhD Scholarship! Can you tell us about your PhD research project in the Brain Sciences department?

Thank you! My PhD research project focuses on investigating predictive outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). It will include a study administering intranasal insulin to individuals with TBI and characterising their neural signatures in comparison to healthy volunteers. I will also explore whether intranasal insulin can act as a functional probe of neuroplastic reserve, which my PhD aims to define in this population.

What drew you to your research topic specifically, and are there any broader societal implications your research is trying to address?

I was drawn to this topic because it allows me to combine experimental work with a pharmacological challenge alongside computational methods bringing together multiple approaches to tackle complex questions regarding TBI recovery. I'm fascinated by how interventions, like intranasal insulin, can act as functional probes to reveal the brain's capacity for recovery and adaptation after injury, and what this could mean in practice for people living with TBI.

TBI is a devastating condition and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or background, and its impact extends beyond the individual, often affecting families and communities as well. By identifying biomarkers of neuroplasticity, defining new ways of brain reserve, and linking them to functional outcomes, my research aims to inform interventions that could improve recovery and enhance quality of life for people living with TBI.

You’re also a co-creator of the Craving Clarity podcast. Could you elaborate on what inspired you and your neuroscience colleagues to launch it, and do you plan to continue the series?

I can only speak for myself, but I believe my colleagues and I shared a common inspiration for . Even though we were all at different stages in our careers, we had all noticed a lack of representation within neuroscience research. Not because the work or voices didn't exist, but because they weren't being highlighted or asked about.

As all women founders, we understood the importance of having our voices heard. So, we decided to create a platform, whether big or small, for researchers from marginalised communities to speak about addiction neuroscience with the aim to increase scientific communication and visibility.

Due to increasing commitments for all of us, Craving Clarity is currently not in production. However, I strongly encourage people to listen to the episodes that are still available on Spotify, as they remain highly relevant to scientific communication and understanding diverse perspectives not just in addiction neuroscience.

What have you learned from centring the marginalised perspectives that you've included in the podcast?

Creating Craving Clarity reinforced for me that you cannot be truly knowledgeable if you do not wish to hear from other sources. By centring marginalised perspectives, I learned that lived experiences offer insights that research alone often misses. For example, how systemic barriers, cultural stigmas and personal context shape addiction and recovery in ways that aren't always visible in data. Listening to these voices is not only important for you to challenge your assumptions, but to also deepen your understanding of addiction neuroscience. It also reminded me that inclusive and socially conscious research requires actively seeking out and valuing perspectives beyond my own.

Are you involved in any other educational or public engagement initiatives to increase understanding of neuroscience research?

Craving Clarity ended earlier this year, so at the moment, I am not involved in any other educational or public engagement initiatives. I'd like to use this time as it is the beginning of my PhD, to focus on adapting to the workflow and schedule. However, I am actively seeking educational or public engagement opportunities to commence in 2026, as I am still very committed to increasing the understanding of neuroscience research to broader audiences, so for anyone reading, please reach out!

Looking ahead, what is your mission or vision – both for your research career and for how you want to contribute to public understanding of neuroscience?

For my research career, I want to conduct work that is truly meaningful. Yes, I would like to advance our understanding of the brain in abstract terms, but also help people better understand neurological diseases and the real-life impact they have on individuals and communities. I hope my research can bridge the gap between complex neuroscience and practical understanding, providing insights that could improve care, interventions, and support for those affected.

Beyond research, as a black woman in neuroscience, I am especially passionate about making the field accessible and inclusive. I hope to lead by example, showing through my own journey that neuroscience is for everyone and that people from all backgrounds can engage with and contribute to. Ultimately, I hope my work both in research and public engagement can inspire curiosity, foster understanding, and create space for voices that are often underrepresented in science.

What piece of advice would you give to younger or aspiring researchers about key challenges they might face?

In a few words, I'd say: Step out of your comfort zone – there is no space in research that isn't for you. You will always bring something valuable to any area you explore, so trust in your abilities and believe in yourself. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, and know that your perspective matters, no matter how big or small.

• More about TBI: , UKRI Medical Council, 2022.

Brianna encourages readers to support Jamaica in the aftermath of the recent hurricane devastation. Relief fund links can be found below: