University of Nicosia (UNIC) Medical School students Nour Abdelaziz and Paul Rotelli presented their projects, based on walking and brain stimulation research, at the Society for Neuroscience Conference (SfN) in San Diego, which took place between 15-19 November 2025.
The conference is the largest gathering of neuroscientists globally, bringing together over 30,000 scientists, physicians and researchers every year to share discoveries, present research and shape the future of brain and nervous system science.
The work presented by both students builds on a long-term collaboration between Avgis Hadjipapas, Professor of Neuroscience and Research Methods at UNIC Medical School and Dr Charalambos Charalambous, Medical Instructor at the Department of Neurology, Duke University.
Nour Abdelaziz presented a poster titled "Characterizing the Contralateral Corticospinal Projections to Lower Extremity Muscles Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation During Walking in Humans". The poster, co-authored with fellow MD Year 4 student Vanina Veeraragoo, investigates the real-time role of the corticospinal tract during human walking using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and synthesises current evidence through a scoping review.
Paul Rotelli presented a poster titled "Beyond the Primary Motor Response: Understanding the Elusive Secondary Motor Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation". The project is a scoping review that aims to critically assess the literature reporting a secondary motor response after Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
L-R: Prof Avgis Hadjipapas, Vanina Veeraragoo, Nour Abdelaziz and Paul Rotelli at the UNIC Health Student Research Conference in March 2025
Nour and Vanina said they were pleased that their poster was selected for the conference, describing it as a meaningful milestone in their academic journey. They expressed gratitude for the support of Prof Hadjipapas and Dr Charalambous, noting that the experience broadened their horizons. "Presenting transformed my relationship with the work, as it became more than a project on a page; it evolved into a conversation shaped by thoughtful questions from leading experts," Abdelaziz said.
Similarly, Paul Rotelli shared his enthusiasm for the opportunity. "Participating in the SfN in San Diego to share our work and learn from leading neuroscientists marked an important milestone in my academic journey," he said.
The students’ participation in this conference was supported through the University of Nicosia Medical School Student Conference Award Programme, which provides financial assistance to undergraduate and postgraduate students to present their research worldwide.
(Source: unic.ac.cy)
