Advancing Neurotechnology Through Open-Access Pathways
Event details
| Date | 25.09.2026 |
| Hour | 10:30 › 11:30 |
| Speaker | Ellis Meng, Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Chair in Convergent Bioscience and Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
BioEngineering Seminar:
Neurotechnologies have advanced rapidly, providing new ways to study the nervous system and new treatment modalities for neurological disorders. Despite this progress and substantial research and commercial investment, significant barriers limit widespread access to advanced electrode array technologies, fabrication capabilities, and translational hardware to move early-stage research toward clinical practice. Few commercial microelectrode arrays are available, and these are generally offered only in fixed designs, while customizable implantable hardware for stimulation, sensing, or closed-loop operation is even scarcer. Proprietary platforms from established medical devices companies remain out of reach for most innovators, while developing custom technologies from scratch requires significant time, effort, and financial investment. Producing small volumes of custom devices generally requires significant expertise, navigation of complex supply chains, and identification of willing manufacturing partners. These persistent challenges have inspired strategies and programs to support development of open-source technologies and ecosystems that overcome barriers and allow individual technical advances to evolve into shared research infrastructure. By reducing redundant effort, expanding access to specialized capabilities, and creating new avenues for collaboration, open-access platforms can expand participation and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into bioelectronic medicines.
https://viterbi.usc.edu/directory/faculty/Meng/Ellis
Zoom link: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/69253875417
Neurotechnologies have advanced rapidly, providing new ways to study the nervous system and new treatment modalities for neurological disorders. Despite this progress and substantial research and commercial investment, significant barriers limit widespread access to advanced electrode array technologies, fabrication capabilities, and translational hardware to move early-stage research toward clinical practice. Few commercial microelectrode arrays are available, and these are generally offered only in fixed designs, while customizable implantable hardware for stimulation, sensing, or closed-loop operation is even scarcer. Proprietary platforms from established medical devices companies remain out of reach for most innovators, while developing custom technologies from scratch requires significant time, effort, and financial investment. Producing small volumes of custom devices generally requires significant expertise, navigation of complex supply chains, and identification of willing manufacturing partners. These persistent challenges have inspired strategies and programs to support development of open-source technologies and ecosystems that overcome barriers and allow individual technical advances to evolve into shared research infrastructure. By reducing redundant effort, expanding access to specialized capabilities, and creating new avenues for collaboration, open-access platforms can expand participation and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into bioelectronic medicines.
https://viterbi.usc.edu/directory/faculty/Meng/Ellis
Zoom link: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/69253875417
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free