Neuroprosthetics Research Group (NRG)
Mission
The goal of the NRG is to develop state-of-the-art novel BIONIC medical treatments. This direction of research is motivated by the potential of neuroprosthetics or direct neural interfaces for delivering therapy and restoring functionality to disabled individuals using engineering principles. Two clinical outcomes of the lab’s mission are to restore movement to the paralyzed and control epileptic seizures.
The mechanism by which we can achieve these outcomes is by "tapping into the brain" and sampling of large ensembles of cells from the cortex and deep brain structures, studying the functional relationships of neural systems (motor system, limbic system), and decoding the activity to devliver therapy. The process of transitioning this technology into a clinically useful device will require two parallel paths of research.
In the first path, experimental paradigms involving microelectrode array recordings in behaving animals will be developed in conjunction with signal processing techniques for studying the unknown aspects of neural coding and functional neurophysiology. These signal processing techniques will then be implemented in portable, low-power, wireless hardware (electrodes, DSPs) that is feasible for a clinical implementation of a BMI.
The second path, high-density array ECoG recordings in humans, provides a less invasive technique for neural interfaces however it still remains unknown how to extract BMI control signatures that are sufficiently spatially and temporally resolved. Moreover, it will be critical to obtain feedback about interactions of the individual’s intent and the engineered interface; a necessary condition for improving the performance of the interface.
Ultimately, it will take the culmination of new functional neurophysiologic knowledge, clinical interaction, signal processing, and low-power, portable electronics to demonstrate the clinical utility for human subjects.
For our latest scientific advancements see the publications sections. We would like to also announce the release of our new book from Morgan and Claypool Publishersers titled Brain-Machine Interface Engineering.
Contact
The Neuroprosthetics Research Group was founded by Justin C. Sanchez, Ph.D. in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida. The NRG laboratory is located within the McKnight Brain Institute and Shands Hospital Human Development Building (directions to lab). Please send all correspondence to, P.O. Box 100296, JHMHC, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, the phone number is (352) 846-2180.
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