Fumiko Hoeft, MD, PhD

Fumiko Hoeft MD PhD is Professor of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Weill Institute for Neurosciences and directs the UCSF Hoeft Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (brainLENS.org). Other academic positions include: Deputy Director of UCSF Dyslexia Center (dyslexia,ucsf.edu), and Executive Director of UC Office of the President's Multicampus Precision Learning Center (PrecL.org). She is a psychiatrist, neurophysiologist, as well as a developmental cognitive and systems neuroscientist. Hoeft was trained clinically at Keio University School of Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) and in research at Harvard, UCLA, Caltech and Stanford. Prior to joining UCSF in 2012, Hoeft was at Stanford for 8 years where she was Associate Director for the Division (then Center) for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (Director: Allan Reiss MD).

Her theoretical interests are in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying brain maturational processes, as well as acquisition of skills such as literacy in typical and atypical populations (e.g. dyslexia). Her research uses neuroimaging tools at various time-scales and levels (e.g. TMS/tDCS, fNIRS, fMRI, aMRI, DWI and MEG/EEG), analytical approaches (e.g. machine learning, graph theory), and designs (e.g. intergenerational neuroimaging, imaging genetics, human natural cross-fostering design). She is interested in identifying how biology (genes) and environment influence neurodevelopment.

Based on the strong needs of the community, her team also specializes in R&D of cognitive science-based tools that can be deployed in educational practice to maximize personalized learning. Examples include:
(1) AppRISE (Application for Readiness In Schools & learning Evaluation), which is is a gamified universal screener app that characterizes strengths and weaknesses for personalized learning, dyslexia-risk and school-readiness. The first set of 13 modules (assessing cognition and literacy) is ideally suited for young children aged 4-6, those who lack English proficiency, or those
at-risk for learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia).
(2) Reading Emotion & Anxiety in Learning (project REAL). We developed a quantitative measure of reading anxiety and are in the process of validating it.
(3) Socio-Emotional Toolkit. In partnership with Eye to Eye and funded by the Oak Foundation, we developed an online questionnaire that will provide personalized SEL report to families, students and teachers as well as evidence-based resources. Ideally suited for ages 9-18.

She has received numerous federal and private foundation grants, published over 120 articles, and delivered over 150 talks including remarks at the White House. Hoeft currently serves on over a dozen boards and committees.

Honors include the 2014 Norman Geschwind Memorial Lectureship from the International Dyslexia Association, 2015 Transforming Education through Neuroscience Award from Learning & the Brain Foundation, and 2017 Multicampus Research Program Award from the University of CA Office of the President. Her work has been widely covered in media such as The New York Times, NPR, CNN, the New Yorker, and Scientific American.

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Other academic positions include: Research Scientist at Haskins Laboratories affiliated with Yale and U Conn; Adj Faculty of Neuropsychiatry at Keio Univ Sch of Med (Japan). Hoeft also plays a significant role as an advisory or board member at many organizations including, the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s Center for Childhood Creativity (BADM’s CCC), International Dyslexia Association (IDA), National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), and a number of schools and organizations. She serves as an editorial board member for Psychological science, New directions for child and adolescent development, Mind brain and education, AERA Open

Current funding includes: As Principal Investigator (PI) - 2 NIH R01s, 1 Univ CA Office of the President's Award and 1 foundation grant (Oak Foundation); As Co-PI - 1 NSF grant; As Subcontract PI - 2 NIH R01s; As Mentor - 2 BBRF Young Investigator Awards