Neural Engineering
This cluster focuses on the development of methods to probe the nervous system and to generate novel neural interfaces.
Through a combination of expertise from biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering and neuroscience, this cluster aims at understanding the nervous system. The ongoing research within the neural engineering cluster spans the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system using computational as well as in-vivo models in pre-clinical and clinical settings. Research topics include electrode and prosthesis development, big data analysis of EEG, neuromodulation approaches.
Recent Publications
Overview of Brain Machine Interface research happening at BI
Related Press Releases & Articles
- February 27, 2018 / Featured
Recent research findings Tim Bruns’ lab on sexual dysfunction
The research article was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine and entitled “Tibial Nerve Stimulation to Drive Genital Sexual Arousal in an Anesthetized Female Rat”.
- February 27, 2018 / Award
Lauren Zimmerman awarded NIH F31 predoctoral fellowship
Lauren Zimmerman, a graduate student in Tim Bruns’ lab, wins the NIH F31 Fellowship from the NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- February 22 @ 2:00 pm
Seminar on “Materials for Biodegradable Electronics” – John Rogers, Northwestern University
This event is co-hosted by the University of Michigan ACS POLY/PMSE Student Chapter and the Biointerfaces Institute Researcher Group.
- February 5, 2018 / Award
Two BI research fellows awarded MICHR Award
Patricia Schnepp, PhD and Vishwanath Sankarasubramanian, PhD receive Postdoctoral Translational Scholars Program (PTSP) Awards from MICHR.
- October 1, 2017 / Featured
The Bruns lab reports on a method for quantifying neuronal cell density
The article entitled “Quantitative models of feline lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia neuronal cell density” appears in the Journal of Neuroscience Research.
- September 20, 2017 / Article
Weiland publishes work in Journal of Neural Engineering
The article is entitled “GCaMP expression in retinal ganglion cells characterized using low-cost fundus imaging system”.
- August 3, 2017 / Award
Chestek and Weiland co-investigators on NSF award
Cindy Chestek and Jim Weiland are members of the research team awarded a $7.75M, 5-year National Science Foundation NeuroNex Technology Hub. The project, called Multimodal Integrated Neural Technologies (MINT) focuses on advancing the understanding of the brain using neural probes with micro LEDs. Additional information on the award and researchers can be found here.
- June 6, 2017 / Article
The Chestek and Stacey Lab investigates the role of sensory information in the primary motor cortex
The article entitled “Robust tactile sensory responses in figure area of primate motor cortex relevant to prosthetic control” appeared in the Journal of Neural Engineering.
- May 18, 2017 / Press Release
Bill Stacey promoted to Associate Professor
Congratulations to Bill Stacey who was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Neurology, Medical School.
- May 2, 2017 / Article
Stacey article in Scientific Reports
Bill Stacey’s group published an article in Scientific Reports titled “Control of in vivo ictogenesis via endogenous synaptic pathways”. The article reports on the development of a model to better understand seizures.
- April 6, 2017 / Award
Bill Stacey wins award from the American Academy of Neurology
Bill Stacey is the recipient of the 2017 Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award from the American Academy of Neurology. Congratulations Bill!
Our Neural Engineering Researchers
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Tim Bruns
Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering Research Focus: Neural Engineering Contact Information:bruns@umich.eduBruns’ research group is developing microelectrode interfaces with the nervous system for functional control and investigating systems-level neurophysiology.
James Weiland
Professor Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology Research Focus: Neural Engineering Contact Information:weiland@umich.eduThe mission of Dr. Weiland and the BioElectronic Vision Lab (BEVL) is to create and translate technological solutions for visual dysfunction. We investigate the fundamental mechanisms through which implantable and wearable electronic systems interact with the visual system and other sensory modalities, and the long term consequences of such systems on the functional and anatomical organization of the visual system. Based on this understanding, we create and optimize medical devices designed to improve the quality of life for the visually impaired.
William Stacey
Associate Professor Neurology and Biomedical Engineering Research Focus: Neural Engineering Contact Information:wstacey@umich.eduThe Stacey lab is dedicated to developing better implantable devices to control epilepsy. The lab uses a combination of electrophysiology, machine learning, signal processing, and computational modeling. Data for these projects are acquired from a large database of human patients, an ongoing pilot clinical trial in patients undergoing surgical implantation of electrodes, and from rodent models of epilepsy. The lab is specifically researching the relationship of high frequency oscillations with seizure mechanisms, and developing methods to target and stimulate the brain to stop seizures.
Scott Lempka
Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering Research Focus: Neural Engineering Contact Information:lempka@umich.eduLempka’s Neuromodulation Lab uses computational models combined with experimental measurements to characterize clinical neurostimulation therapies for chronic pain management. Particular research areas include spinal cord stimulation and deep brain stimulation.
Cindy Chestek
Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Research Focus: Neural Engineering Contact Information:cchestek@umich.eduThe Chestek lab focuses on brain machine interface (BMI) systems using 100 channel arrays implanted in motor and pre-motor cortex. The goal is to eventually develop clinically viable systems to enable paralyzed individuals to control prosthetic limbs, as well as their own limbs using functional electrical stimulation and assistive exoskeletons.