Interested in what we explore in the Neural Engineering Center in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University?
Neural engineering and rehabilitation research applies neuroscience and engineering methods to analyze central and peripheral nervous system function and to design clinical solutions to neurological disorders or injury. Through the application of basic science and engineering techniques, neural engineers develop methods to record from and exert control over the nervous system and associated organ systems.
Our primary faculty, associated faculty, research associates and students 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.
Neural engineering facilities allow researchers to take ideas from basic science through experimental testing and to clinical deployment. Neural engineering research teams are funded by commercial partnerships and grants, including those from the state of Ohio, National Institutes of Health, and other federal sources—in excess of $26 million.
Ongoing Research and Applications
We have a variety of ongoing research efforts and applications in neural engineering and rehabilitation. Learn more about them:
- Neural prostheses, neural rehabilitation engineering, and neuromodulation: We pursue technologies for treating and managing consequences of stroke, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, genito-urinary function, pain, and multiple sclerosis; advance robot-assisted rehabilitation; and explore the effects of deep brain stimulation for treating movement disorders.
- Neural dynamics and neurophysiology: We're interested in the synchronization and control of neural activity in-vivo and in-vitro, spinal neural circuits, and stochastic resonance in neural networks, analysis and control of epilepsy.
- Neural regeneration: We engineer materials and devices to facilitate the growth of neurons for specific applications such as the regeneration of peripheral nerve in case of injury or surgical resection, the regeneration of the spinal cord tissue for spinal cord injury and the regeneration of retinal tissue.
- Neural and brain machine interfaces: We research bio-inspired materials, cellular-level neural connection, EEG and microelectrodes for cortical control of assistive technologies, and interfacing techniques with the peripheral nervous system.
- Neural computation and control: We research computational neuroscience; simulation of nerve electrodes, musculo-skeletal systems, and biomechanics; we also assess advanced control algorithms.
- Bioelectric Medicine: We combine molecular medicine, bioengineering and neuroscience to discover and develop nerve-stimulating and sensing technologies to regulate biological processes and treat disease. It is focused on the autonomic nervous system.
Affiliated Laboratories and Centers
In the Neural Engineering Center, we work with various affiliated laboratories and centers. Visit the websites below to learn more about our affiliates.
- Autonomic Neural Prostheses and Neurophysiology Laboratory
- Brain Machine Interfaces Laboratory
- Functional Electrical Stimulation Center
- Advanced Platform Technology Center
- Neurological Surgery Imaging Laboratory
- Functional Neural Interfaces Lab
- Kirsch Functional Restoration Group
- Durand’s Neural Engineering Laboratory
- Human Fusion Institute