Neural engineering and rehabilitation research applies neuroscience and engineering methods to analyze central and peripheral nervous system function and to design clinical solutions for neurological disorders or injury. Through the application of basic science and engineering techniques, neural engineers develop methods to analyze and control the nervous system and associated organ systems.
Research in neural engineering at Case Western Reserve University is bolstered through collaboration and proximity to world-class healthcare facilities. Faculty, research associates and students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering work in three national centers of education and research in neural engineering and rehabilitation. Our research teams collaborate with four local major medical facilities: MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering has ongoing research and applications in neural engineering and rehabilitation in several areas that allow our team to move ideas from basic science through experimental testing to clinical deployment. These areas include:
Neuromodulation – Clinical and experimental technologies for treating and managing consequences of stroke, epilepsy, pain, spinal cord injury, genitourinary function, movement disorders, autonomic functions and psychiatric disorders.
Prosthetics and Orthotics – Implanted devices to directly communicate with the nervous system functions for the control of assistive technologies, as well as provide sensory feedback in amputee prosthetics.
Neural Interfaces – Design of both stimulating and recording electrode technologies for interfacing with the nervous system. In the central nervous system, research is focused on brain computer interfaces and deep brain stimulation to restore function in patients with neurological disorders, such as paralysis. In the peripheral nervous system, novel interfacing technology targets small somatic and autonomic nerves.
Neural and Biomechanical Computation – The use of computational models to simulate the dynamics of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system during movement in order to gain insight into the underlying neural and biomechanical processes. These models are used to develop new treatments and interventions for nervous system disorders disorders, as well as to design more effective prosthetics and other assistive technologies.
Computational tools are also applied to develop and understand neural circuit function and dynamics.
Affiliated Centers
- Advanced Platform Technology Center
- Autonomic Neural Prostheses and Neurophysiology Laboratory
- Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center (FES)
- Human Fusions Institute (HFI)
- MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute
- Neural Engineering Center (NEC)
- Neurological Surgery Imaging Laboratory
Faculty
Paul D. Marasco, PhD
Associate Staff, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Email: marascp2@ccf.org
Carl Saab, PhD
Founder and Scientific Director, Cleveland Clinic Consortium for Pain
Email: saabc@ccf.org
Abhinav Acharya, PhD
Associate Chair for Research, Department of Biomedical EngineeringElmer Lincoln Lindseth Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical EngineeringMember, Cancer Imaging Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: abhinav.acharya@case.edu
Abidemi Bolu Ajiboye, PhD
Faculty Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, Office of Faculty Advancement and Postdoctoral AffairsRobert & Brenda Aiken Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: abidemi.ajiboye@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.6814
Jeffrey Capadona, PhD
Vice Provost for InnovationDonnell Institute Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical EngineeringPrincipal Investigator, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Capadona LabSenior Research Career Scientist, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterEmail: jeffrey.capadona@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.5486
Hamid Charkhkar, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: hamid.charkhkar@case.edu
Phone: 216.791.3800 ext. 62924
Patrick Crago, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: patrick.crago@case.edu
Dominique M. Durand, PhD
Director, Neural Engineering CenterAssociate Chair for Master’s programs, Department of Biomedical EngineeringElmer Lincoln Lindseth Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical EngineeringProfessor, Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineProfessor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of MedicineEmail: dominique.durand@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3974
Emily Graczyk, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringAssociate Chair for Communications and Public Relations, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: emily.graczyk@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.5182
Kenneth J. Gustafson, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: kenneth.gustafson@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.8626
Ana G. Hernandez Reynoso, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringMember, CWRU Center for Imaging Research
Michael Jenkins, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringMember, Cancer Imaging Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer CenterMember, CWRU Center for Imaging ResearchEmail: michael.jenkins@case.edu
Robert Kirsch, PhD
Chair, Department of Biomedical EngineeringExecutive Director, Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation CenterAllen H. and Constance T. Ford ProfessorProfessor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringEmail: robert.kirsch@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3158
Michael Moffitt, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: michael.moffitt@case.edu
Luke Osborn, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: luke.osborn@case.edu
P. Hunter Peckham, PhD
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Biomedical EngineeringAssociate Director of Technology Transfer, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland FES CenterEmail: p.peckham@case.edu
Phone: 216.778.3480
Christopher Pulliam, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: christopher.pulliam@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3138
Andrew Shoffstall, PhD
Associate Chair for Graduate Education, Department of Biomedical EngineeringNord Distinguished Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: andrew.shoffstall@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.1213
Ronald J. Triolo, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringExecutive Director, Advanced Platform Technology Center of the Department of Veterans AffairsEmail: ronald.triolo@case.edu
Phone: 216.791.3800
Dustin Tyler, PhD
Director, Human FusionsDirector, Functional Neural Interface LabAssociate Director, Cleveland Advanced Platform for TechnologyArthur S. Holden Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: dustin.tyler@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.0319
Matthew Williams, PhD
Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education, Department of Biomedical EngineeringAssistant Professor, Department of Biomedical EngineeringEmail: matthew.williams@case.edu
Research Faculty
Musa Audu
Research Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringEmail: musa.audu@case.edu
Phone: 216.543.5082
Chia-Chu Chiang
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringEmail: chia-chu.chiang@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3580
Allison Hess-Dunning, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical, Case School of EngineeringResearch Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringResearch Investigator, Department of Veterans Affairs, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterEmail: allison.hess@case.edu
Grant McCallum
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Neural Engineering Center, Case School of EngineeringEmail: grant.mccallum@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.6962
Anandakumar Shunmugavel, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringEmail: axs2917@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3135
Affiliated Faculty
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Richard Burgess, MD, PhD
Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University
Email: burgesr@ccf.org
John Chae, MD
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Neural Engineering Center, Case School of EngineeringVice President, Research and Sponsored Programs, MetroHealth SystemCo-Director, MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute, MetroHealth SystemProfessor and Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MetroHealth System, School of MedicineEmail: jchae@metrohealth.org
Phone: 216.957.3623
Hillel Chiel, PhD
Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and SciencesProfessor, Department of Neurosciences, School of MedicineProfessor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case School of EngineeringProfessor, Neural Engineering Center, Case School of EngineeringEmail: hillel.chiel@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.3846
Kevin Kilgore, PhD
Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, MetroHealth Medical Center, School of MedicineStaff Scientist, Department of Orthopaedics, MetroHealth Medical CenterBiomedical Engineer, Research Services, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterInvestigator, Cleveland FES CenterEmail: kevin.kilgore@case.edu
Phone: 216.778.3801
Dawn Taylor, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve UniversityEmail: dawn.taylor@case.edu
Nathaniel Makowski
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of MedicineEmail: nmakowski@metrohealth.org
James Sulzer
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of MedicineEmail: jsulzer@metrohealth.org
Dennis Bourbeau, PhD
Staff Scientist, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MetroHealth SystemsAssistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MetroHealth System, School of MedicineEmail: dennis.bourbeau@case.edu