ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Advance brain injury treatment by funding innovative research and sharing knowledge that empowers providers, supports families, and improves lives.
OUR VISION
A world where individuals affected by brain injuries achieve optimal
recovery and quality of life through research-driven clinical excellence.
OUR HISTORY
Founded by professionals who have spent decades working directly with brain injury patients and families, the Synaptics Foundation exists to bridge research and care. From the beginning, our mission has been to advance knowledge of brain injury and transform it into better treatments and recovery practices.
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Our team of neuroscientists, researchers, and clinicians produces research that inspires leading-edge rehabilitation, shared through lectures, publications, and international conferences. We also partner with donors, foundations, and institutions to expand this impact.
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Because education builds awareness, we create opportunities for providers, students, and communities to deepen their understanding and improve brain injury care.
MEET OUR TEAM
Mark J. Ashley, Sc.D.
Mark J. Ashley, Sc.D., is a renowned expert in neurorehabilitation and the Founder and CEO of Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), a leading provider of comprehensive brain injury rehabilitation services. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. Ashley has dedicated his career to advancing care and treatment for individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other neurological disorders. Dr. Ashley holds a Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree, with a specialization in neurorehabilitation, and has become a key figure in the development of innovative rehabilitation programs that combine evidence-based practices with personalized, patient-centered care. His work at CNS has been instrumental in creating multidisciplinary treatment strategies that address the cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges faced by individuals recovering from brain injuries. Throughout his career, Dr. Ashley has been deeply committed to advancing research and advocating for improvements in brain injury treatment, prevention, and recovery outcomes. He has collaborated with leading researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to promote best practices in neurorehabilitation, ensuring that every patient receives the highest quality of care. In addition to his work at CNS, Dr. Ashley has served as a keynote speaker at national and international conferences, published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, and remains an active member of several professional organizations dedicated to brain injury recovery. His leadership, passion for innovation, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of individuals with brain injuries have earned him widespread recognition and respect in the field of neurorehabilitation.
Brent E. Masel, MD
A researcher, academician and physician, Dr. Masel is also a Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Masel received his medical degree from the Loyola University School of Medicine and completed his post-graduate training at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He is a board-certified Neurologist and was in the private practice of Neurology for 16 years. His research on traumatic brain injury has been published in Journal of Neurotrauma and Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. In 2013, Dr. Masel was honored by the Brain Injury Association of America as a recipient of the Sheldon Berrol Award.
Grace S. Griesbach, Ph.D.
Dr. Griesbach received her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin and served as faculty at University of California David Geffen School of Medicine, Neurosurgery Department. Dr. Griesbach is most well known for her National Institute of Health (NIH) funded research on traumatic brain injury that has focused on mechanisms that facilitate recovery and enhance rehabilitation. She has served as a reviewer for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Veterans Administration and the Federal Advisory Committee for the Scientific Merit Review Board for Brain Injury. She has also served as a member of the NIH and Department of Defense Sports Concussion Common Data Elements Working Group. Dr. Griesbach was elected as the 2021 President for the National Neurotrauma Society (NNS) and served as Chair for the NNS 2022 Annual Symposium.
Stefanie Howell, Ph.D.
Dr. Howell received her doctorate in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. During that time, her primary area of research was pre-clinical models of neurodegenerative disease. Since joining Centre for Neuro Skills in 2016, she now focuses on methods for facilitating recovery and maximizing outcome potential post-injury. Her responsibilities include coordinating clinical research studies, designing experiments, writing manuscripts, and preparing research grants proposals. Dr. Howell has presented at esteemed conferences, including the American Heart Association’s International Stroke conference, National Neurotrauma Society, Society for Neuroscience, and Sleep Research Society conferences. Her presentations have focused on sleep-wake disturbances, neuroendocrine abnormalities, and re-hospitalizations, deciphering how these impact outcome and quality of life. In addition, she has also presented for several audiences on successful methods for returning to work after brain injury. Dr. Howell has published in and served as a reviewer for several scientific journals, including the Journal of Sleep Research, Neurorehabilitation, Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation International, Physiology and Behavior, and the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Matthew Ashley, M.D.
Dr. Ashley is responsible for executive oversight of medical programs and development for all clinics in California and Texas. He received his medical and juris doctor degrees from Southern Illinois University. He completed a neurology residency at University of California, Los Angeles, as well as a neurological rehabilitation fellowship at the university’s Neurological Rehabilitation and Research Unit. Having trained at a national stroke center, Dr. Ashley is one of the few neurology and rehabilitation-trained physicians who provide clinical services for postacute care.