Neurotechnology: from “Cells to Brain” and “Machines to Mind”

Speaker: Nitish V. Thakor
Affiliation: National University of Singapore

Abstract: This decade has seen a remarkable renaissance of the Neurotechnology field. This is evidenced by the BRAIN and SPARC initiatives in the USA through NIH, NSF and other agencies, as well as the large Human Brain Project in Europe. DARPA has championed many exciting projects, from Revolutionizing Prosthesis over the past 10 years to the recent programs named HaptiX and ElectRx. All of these programs aim to improve the interfaces with the nervous system and achieve revolutionary advances in prosthesis and finding solution to diseases. Through the advances in the field of Brain Machine Interfaces, further revolutionary medical solutions as well as commercial/industrial applications are now being sought by multi-nationals (traditional such as Medtronic, Cyberonic, Advanced Bionics, and recent entrants such as Google, GSK, Facebook) and entrepreneurs many famed entrepreneurs. So, what is the hype all about?

To give an overview of the field, and to discuss the potential and the hype, I will give an overview of the Neurotechnology frontiers from the perspective of my role as the founder and the director of Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE). Our focus is on:
• Neurochip/Neuro3D (cellular neuroscience to 3D brain)
• Neurotechnology (including implantable technologies, neuroprosthesis)
• Neurororobotics (including virtual and augmented reality)
• Neuromorphic systems (brain inspired computers, sensors and robots)
• NanoNeuroPhotonics (imaging brain, nanoparticle therapeutics)
• Cognitive Engineering (from cognitive science to brain machine interface)
• Neurophysiology and Neuroscience.

By sharing the vignettes from of each of these programs, I will introduce the audience with the frontiers of Neurotechnology, and opportunities to interact with our Institute – from collaborations to internships, graduate studies and employment opportunities.

Biography: Nitish V. Thakor is the Director the Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE) at the National University of Singapore and the Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering since 2012. He has also been the Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University since 1983. Prof. Thakor’s technical expertise is in the field of Neuroengineering, where he has pioneered many technologies for brain monitoring to prosthetic arms and neuroprosthesis. He is an author of more than 328 refereed journal papers (H Index 62; I-10 Index 210), more than a dozen patents, and co-founder of 3 companies. He is currently the Editor in Chief of Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, and was the Editor in Chief of IEEE TNSRE from 2005-2011. Prof. Thakor is a recipient of a Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health and a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation, and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, IEEE, Founding Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and Fellow of International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering. He is a recipient of the award of Technical Excellence in Neuroengineering from IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India, and a Centennial Medal from the University of Wisconsin, School of Engineering.

For more information, contact Prof. Aydogan Ozcan (ozcan@ucla.edu)

Date/Time:
Date(s) - Jun 21, 2017
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Location:
E-IV Tesla Room #53-125
420 Westwood Plaza - 5th Flr., Los Angeles CA 90095