Bioinstrumentation & medical devices
How brains respond to stimulation therapies
Matthew Johnson’s research lab aims to understand how the nervous system responds and adapts to stimulation-based therapies, such as deep brain stimulation. Their studies are improving these therapies to help people with Parkinson's disease and Essential Tremor reclaim control over their motor function.
Technologies to treat hearing issues and pain
Hubert Lim’s lab develops neural interfaces and medical technologies, working with clinicians and companies to bring ideas to trials so they can potentially become real-world solutions. The team uses approaches like electrical stimulation and neural recordings, with a focus on hearing loss, tinnitus, and pain.
Advanced technology for nerve stimulation therapies
The Precision Electroceutical Research Lab (PERL) develops nerve stimulation therapies that combine advanced computational tools with recordings from the nervous system. This work aims to create safe, energy-based treatment options for diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders.
Prediction and prevention of cardiac arrhythmias
Alena Talkachova’s group visualizes electrical activity in the heart and small patches of cardiac tissue. They use nonlinear dynamics approaches to predict transition from normal to abnormal cardiac rhythms, and to prevent arrhythmias in the heart. They also develop novel tools to guide mapping-specific ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Implantable brain chips
Zhi Yang’s lab studies the emerging area of implantable brain devices that can understand thoughts, such as to help amputees control robotic limbs or enable new electroceuticals. They’re developing neural recording, processing, and stimulation chips, and have devices in clinical trials.
Research from our graduate faculty
Technology for ultra high field magnetic resonance systems
Gregor Adriany is part of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, which designs novel magnetic resonance imaging array combinations for imaging at 7 Tesla (300 MHz), 10.5 Tesla (450 MHz) and 16.4 Tesla (700 MHz).
Living biological systems through a new cryo supply chain
John Bischof’s lab is helping make organ banking a reality. By developing new ways to cool and safely rewarm organs, tissues and whole organisms without damage, his research opens the door to saving more lives, lowering transplant wait times, and building a new cryo-supply chain of living biological systems.
Quantitative MR imaging methods and translation
Patrick Bolan’s group focuses on developing computational methods for quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, and integration of such methods in clinical trials of cancer and obesity.
Quantitative imaging of brain energy metabolism
Wei Chen’s lab has developed a variety of X-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging methodologies and advanced radiofrequency coil technologies for noninvasively studying cellular metabolism, bioenergetics, function and dysfunction of the brain and other organs at ultrahigh field.
Advanced brain imaging for neuromodulation
The Harel Lab develops imaging tools that use ultra-high field MRI technology (e.g., 7 Tesla) to visualize the brain’s intricate anatomical structures. Research focuses on generating highly detailed maps of brain target areas and their anatomical connections — critical for improving deep brain stimulation treatments.
Understanding brain-wide circuits mediating complex behaviors
Bridging neuroscience, genomics, and engineering, Suhasa Kodandaramaiah’s laboratory invents transformative technologies for ultra-large-scale neural recordings during complex cognitive behaviors. More recently, efforts have expanded to apply these tools to fundamental neuroscience questions.
Tracking RNA in the living brain
Hye Yoon Park’s lab visualizes how neurons store memories by tracking RNA molecules in real time. This helps reveal how learning shapes the brain and opens new paths for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases.
Finding new therapies for spinal cord injury
The Parr Lab combines cutting edge 3D bioprinting technology with advancements in stem cell derived, regionally specific spinal neural progenitor cells to develop new treatments for spinal cord injury patients.
Biophysical probes for cardiac drug discovery
The Thomas Lab uses molecular biophysics to create fluorescent probes for detecting protein structural changes, with the goal of discovering small-molecule drugs for treatment of disease, focused on muscle (cardiac and skeletal), but also including cancer.
Novel deep brain stimulation strategies for neurological disorders
Jing Wang's research focuses on the development of novel deep brain stimulation strategies such as coordinated reset stimulation for treating neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease and essential tremor). Studies aim to understand the pathophysiology and the mechanism of deep brain stimulation.
Engineering brain networks of mental illness
Alik Widge's Translational NeuroEngineering Lab (TNEL) develops brain stimulation therapies for severe mental illnesses, including depression, addiction, OCD, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Their work includes computational models, animal experiments, and human trials.