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SUMMARY:Neurotechnology for restoring and enhancing sensorimotor\, autonom
 ic\, and cognitive functions
DTSTART:20171130T121500
DTEND:20171130T131500
DTSTAMP:20260407T025722Z
UID:2cf9b6a2fd4d934e34a69c36245fccf4dbb0f1712c827d1a5ebdf674
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Douglas J. Weber\, University of Pittsburgh\, USA.\nCENT
 ER FOR NEUROPROSTHETICS (CNP) SEMINAR\n\nAbstract:\nSignificant advances i
 n micro- and nanotechnologies over the last decade have enabled clinically
  relevant neurotechnologies that measure and effect neural activity in the
  brain\, spinal cord\, and peripheral nerves. The first half of this talk 
 will focus on research in my lab aimed at developing neural interfaces tha
 t enable natural control and sensation for prosthetic limbs. The second ha
 lf of the talk will describe my recent work at DARPA in three programs tha
 t are pushing the boundaries of neural interface technology to create devi
 ces and therapies that are effective\, reliable\, and safe enough for long
 -term use in humans. DARPA’s Hand Proprioception and Touch Interfaces (H
 APTIX) program is working to create a fully implantable system that interf
 aces with peripheral nerves in amputees. The Electrical Prescriptions (Ele
 ctRx) program is developing new technologies for interfacing with nerves i
 n minimally- or non-invasive ways using novel magnetic\, optogenetic\, and
  ultrasound-based technologies.  In each instance\, these new mechanisms 
 of interrogating and stimulating the peripheral nervous system are driving
  towards unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution\, cell-type specificity an
 d targeting\, and noninvasiveness with the goal of creating closed-loop ne
 uromodulation systems for humans.  Peripheral neuromodulation strategies 
 may also provide opportunities to enhance cognitive functions in healthy i
 ndividuals.  DARPA’s Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program se
 eks to advance the pace and effectiveness of cognitive skills training thr
 ough the precise activation of peripheral nerves that can in turn promote 
 and strengthen neuronal connections in the brain. Each of these programs f
 ocus on achieving a mechanistic understanding of the neural circuits under
 lying the targeted functions\, establishing a foundation for building tech
 nology that interfaces precisely and reliably with those circuits to resto
 re or enhance functions.\n\nBio:\nDoug Weber is an Associate Professor in 
 the Department of Bioengineering and holds a joint appointment in the Depa
 rtment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsb
 urgh.  Dr. Weber recently completed a 4-year term as Program Manager in t
 he Biological Technologies office at the Defense Advanced Research Project
 s Agency (DARPA).  Dr. Weber received a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Ariz
 ona State University and completed post-doctoral training in the Centre fo
 r Neuroscience at the University of Alberta.  His primary research area i
 s Neural Engineering\, including studies of motor learning and control of 
 walking and reaching with an emphasis on applications to neurotechnology a
 nd rehabilitation medicine.  Specific research interests include function
 al electrical stimulation\, activity-based neuromotor rehabilitation\, neu
 ral coding\, and neural control of prosthetic devices.  Active projects i
 n his lab are focused on building neuro-machine interfaces to enable amput
 ees to achieve natural control and sensation with robotic limbs.
LOCATION:Campus Biotech H8 1 144.165 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room=H81144.167
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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