The Rodger Kobes and Michael Keller Science and Human Health Lectureship

Name: The Rodger Kobes and Michael Keller Science and Human Health Lectureship
Start: 2026-10-29T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-10-29T20:30:00-04:00
Location: Graves Hall

Άλλο 29.10.2026 / Πέμπτη / 18:00 - 20:30 Graves Hall, 263 College Avenue, Holland, MI 49423-3646 Αγορά εισιτηρίων

6:00 PM | Reception
6:30 PM | Public Lecture

SEMINAR SPEAKER: Dr. Eva Feldman, University of Michigan Medical School TITLE: “The Healthy Brain Blueprint: Nutrition, Exercise, and Dementia Prevention” ABSTRACT: How does the brain work, and what can we do to keep it healthy as we age? This talk will explore the basic anatomy and cellular structure of the brain, explain how dementia develops, and review the genetic and biological factors that influence risk. Participants will learn about advances in dementia and Alzheimer’s biomarkers and treatments, as well as the growing evidence that lifestyle choices play a powerful role in brain health. Finally, we will discuss how nutrition and physical activity can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and support lifelong brain function, offering practical steps that everyone can take to promote healthy aging. BIO: Eva L. Feldman, MD, PhD, is the James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor, the Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Michigan. An internationally recognized physician-scientist, her research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms that promote lifelong brain health and drive neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. Continuously funded by the NIH for more than 35 years, she directs the ALS Center of Excellence and leads a multidisciplinary laboratory of 30 scientists dedicated to translating discoveries into new therapies and prevention strategies. Feldman led the first U.S. clinical trials of stem cell transplantation for ALS and has helped shape national clinical guidelines for neurological disease. She is a past President of the American Neurological Association and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, where she serves on the Executive Council and the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Rodger Kobes ('63 Hope College) and Michael Keller established a fund to bring guest speakers to the campus to discuss the translation of science to human health, the Kobes and Keller Science and Human Health Lectureship. The lectureship will expose Hope students and the greater West Michigan community to leading-edge endeavors that address important health problems using innovative techniques and strategies. Rodger and Michael are believers in the value of liberal arts education and faith-based institutions. Their undergraduate experiences in and out of the classroom formed them personally and professionally. They want to give back to Hope in a way that will help students see how basic science impacts health and to motivate them to apply science to solve problems.