New center for optimizing neuromodulation therapies
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Funding to BME researchers and their collaborators will support the creation of Minnesota Precision Neuromodulation Center, which aims to develop more equitable use of neuromodulation therapies for patients and support a more diverse scientific community.

June 6, 2023 — One of the most promising treatments for a range of debilitating neuropsychiatric disorders has made giant leaps, yet its full potential has yet to be unlocked. A new grant to University of Minnesota Department of Biomedical Engineering Professors Tay Netoff and Alex Opitz and their Mayo Clinic collaborators, Gregory Worrell and Paul Croarkin, aims to change that. 

The grant will support a collaborative project and was awarded through the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics (MNP), which is funded by the State of Minnesota.

Advancing neuromodulation therapies

Prof. Netoff, Prof. Opitz, and team will use the award to study neuromodulation therapies, including:

  • Deep brain stimulation
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • Transcranial alternating current stimulation
  • Vagal nerve stimulation
  • Spinal cord stimulation

While these approaches have been clinically proven to treat various neuropsychiatric disorders, there’s little guidance on selecting the optimal settings, which may vary from patient to patient. 

Introducing the Minnesota Precision Neuromodulation Center

Funding will also enable the team to create the Minnesota Precision Neuromodulation Center (MinPeNCe), a center that will enhance neuromodulation therapies by optimizing them with patient-centered innovation and outreach. 

The research team will support clinical studies on major depressive disorder and epilepsy, and later develop infrastructure to support pilot projects exploring Bayesian Optimization, artificial intelligence, brain state tracking analytics, wearable devices, and molecular platforms for future dose finding studies. 
 

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