Capadona Lab Funding

Active PI / Co-PI Funding

Here, you can review specifics of the research funds awarded to the Capadona Lab in Case Western Reserve University's Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Characterizing and mitigating the role of oxidative damage in microelectrode failure

Grant Number: 2635723 (Capadona)

Funding Date: 04/01/2019-3/30/2024       

Grant Mechanism: NIH NINDS (R01)

Grant Funding: $2,500,000 DC

Role: Co-PI (Pancrazio)

This project seeks to develop an antioxidative surface coating to prevent premature failure of stimulating intracortical microelectrode which results from oxidative damage to electrode materials and oxidative damage to neural tissue.  We will additionally investigate the role of oxidative damage as a function of device rigidity.


Hybrid Drug-Eluting Microfluidic Neural Probe for Chronic Drug Infusion

Grant Number: A3083 (Capadona)

Funding Date: 04/01/2019 - 03/31/2023 

Grant Mechanism: VA RR&D Merit Review

Grant Funding: $1,100,000 DC

Role: Co-PI (Hess-Dunning)

This project seeks to develop a drug eluting intracortical microelectrode from dynaically softening polymer nanocomposite materials.  The implants will release the antioxidant Resveratrol, to investigate the impact of target two improtant mechanism for microelectrode failure.


RR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

Grant Number: A3077 (Capadona)

Funding Date: 01/01/2019 - 12/31/2023

Grant Mechanism: VA RR&D Research Career Scientist

Grant Funding: $590,184 DC

Role: PI

This award is not tied to a project and is granted to top-performing VA investigators in recognition of career performance and trajectory within the VA, RR&D service. 


Antioxidative Microelectrodes to Improve Neural Recording Performance

Grant Number: A2611 (Capadona)

Funding Date:  07/01/2018 - 06/30/2022

Grant Mechanism: VA RR&D Merit Review

Grant Funding: $962,327 DC

Role: PI

This project seeks to develop an antioxidative surface coating to prevent premature failure of intracortical microelectrode which results from oxidative damage to electrode materials and oxidative damage to neural tissue. 


CD14 facilitates neural device integration and performance

Grant Number: R01 NS082404 (Capadona)

Funding Date: 08/01/2013 - 07/31/2019 (NCE)   

Grant Mechanism: NIH NINDS   

Grant Funding: $2,302,414 DC

Role: PI

The central hypothesis is that CD14 inhibition will attenuate microelectrode encapsulation and neuronal die-back, resulting in reduced tissue impedance and more stable and higher numbers of isolated unit recordings from implanted microelectrodes. The current proposal will build from the PI's preliminary results indicated the role of CD14 in neural device-associated inflammation. A transgenic rodent intracortical microelectrode model will be used to complete the characterization of the role of CD14 in neuroinflammation.  Additionally, novel CD14 antagonist will be further investigated as a therapeutic means to inhibit device-associated neuroinflammation and improve the longevity of device performance. The successful completion of this project will provide clear support for our central hypothesis, and will help facilitate the translation of this promising technology to treat patients.


The Effect of the Elimination of Micromotion and Tissue Strain on Intracortical Device Performance

Grant Number: 11766813 (Capadona)

Funding Date: 09/01/2015 - 08/31/2019 (NCE)

Grant Mechanism: DoD CDMRP  

Grant Funding: $678,532 DC

Role: Co-PI (Pancrazio)

In this study, we will systematically examine the effects of softening microelectrodes, which reduce the micromotion and tissue strain effects, on the neuroinflammatory response and recording capability of chronically implanted intracortical microelectrodes arrays. When successful, this study will for the first time answer a 30+ year old hypothesis of the field, and provide a framework leading to the development of new generations of implantable cortical interfaces capable of long-term reliability.

Active Co-I Funding

Advanced Platform Technology Center of Excellence

Grant Number: A1871-C (Triolo)

Funding Date: 01/01/2015 - 12/31/2019 (renewed for 5 additional years) 

Grant Mechanism: VA RR&D Research Center of Excellence

Grant Funding: $5,000,000 DC

Role: Co-I

Together with basic science and engineering faculty at CWRU, and other notable institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, we leverage the latest advances in microfabrication, microelectronics and microsystems, material science, neuroscience and neural engineering, and additive manufacturing, and apply them to the highest medical priorities of the Veterans Health Administration.  Our efforts are concentrated in four primary areas:  Enabling Technologies, Neural Interfacing, Health Monitoring/Maintenance and Prosthetics/Orthotics.  “Enabling Technologies” refers to the new materials, microfabrication processes, and encapsulation, encoding or sensing methods that make many otherwise intractable clinical applications not only possible, but practical. 


PIRE: Bio-Inspired Materials and Systems

Grant Number: 1743475 (Korley)

Funding Date: 09/01/2017 - 08/31/2022

Grant Mechanism: National Science Foundation

Grant Funding: $5,500,000 DC

Role: Co-I

The PIRE is a multi-institutional International collaboration focusing on the molecular design of materials, with inspirations from natural systems either in the design, or final system.