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UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces Hosts NeuroGateways 2023 Symposium

Birmingham, AL – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces is proud to announce its hosting of the inaugural NeuroGateways 2023 Symposium. The event took place on March 30th and 31st, 2023, at the UAB National Alumni House.

NeuroGateways 2023 brought together a diverse group of experts from UAB and external institutions, including academic scientists, clinicians, and industry professionals. The symposium aimed to facilitate discussions on the latest discoveries, clinical applications, and business opportunities in neuroengineering and neurotechnology.

With three central themes, Neurorehabilitation, Neuromodulation, and Neurodata, the symposium covered a broad range of topics. Neurorehabilitation focused on the use of neural activity to control devices for assisting and restoring lost function. Neuromodulation aimed to improve the quality of life for patients through the alteration of brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve activity. Neurodata highlighted the collection and integration of vast amounts of neural and imaging data for hypothesis-driven queries and Big Data analyses.

The symposium spanned two days, with sessions running from 8am to 5pm on Thursday, March 30th, and 8am to 2pm on Friday, March 31st. Participants had the opportunity to meet experts from academia and industry who shared their knowledge and research in the field of neuroengineering and neurotechnology. The focus of the presentations and associated activities was on practical applications and approaches to the technology.

“The goal of NeuroGateways 2023 was to foster an environment of collaboration where different approaches to neurotechnology could be explored and discussed,” said Dr. John Smith, Director of the UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces. “We wanted participants to gain insight into the current state of neuroengineering and neurotechnology and be prepared to apply these advancements to their respective fields.”

To learn more about the symposium, including the agenda and topics covered, please visit the NeuroGateways 2023 website at speaker.neurogateways.com/agenda.

About UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces:

The UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces focuses on multidisciplinary research and innovation in neuroengineering and neurotechnology. Through collaborations

CNBCI at the NSF BRAIN IUCRC meeting

UAB’s Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces Showcases Innovations at NSF BRIAN IUCRC Meeting

[TEMPE, AZ] – Faculty and students from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces (CNBCI) recently attended the National Science Foundation (NSF) BRIAN IUCRC meeting in Tempe, AZ on July 6 and 7. The CNBCI, a candidate member of this prestigious group of neuroengineering research centers, delivered a well received presentation on what the CNBCI would bring to the BRAIN Center.

The UAB CNBCI team at the meeting comprised of Professor Jamie Tyler, Associate Professor Mark Bolding, and Neuroengineering PhD students Ashton Weber and Caila Coyne. Their collective expertise in neurobiology, neuroimaging, neural interface technology, engineering, and the latest developments in neuroscience allowed for an engaging and insightful discussion on the advancements in personalized neurotechnologies.

The CNBCI’s main objective is to develop safe, effective, and affordable personalized neurotechnologies for diagnostics, restoration, enhancement, and rehabilitation of sensory, motor, affective, and cognitive functions. By supporting innovative interdisciplinary research across various dimensions of brain function and behavior, the CNBCI aims to improve the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

The center’s affiliation with the NSF BRIAN IUCRC will further solidify its commitment to advancing neuroengineering research and education. The CNBCI’s representative presentation highlighted the center’s dedication to fueling advancements in research, education, and patient care at UAB and the broader communities it serves.

“We are honored to have been chosen to attend the NSF BRIAN IUCRC meeting and showcase the strides we have made in the field of neuroengineering,” said Professor Jamie Tyler. “Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in personalized neurotechnologies, and this recognition from the NSF is a validation of our efforts.”

The CNBCI has consistently demonstrated a dedication to multidisciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge research, making it an invaluable resource for individuals seeking to understand and enhance brain function. By combining engineering and analytics with neurobiology and neuroimaging, the CNBCI is at the forefront of pioneering research that has the potential to transform patient care and improve lives.

For more information about the CNBCI and its research initiatives, please visit https://sites.uab.edu/cnbci/

The Center for Neuroengineering and Brain Computer Interfaces (CNBCI) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham

CNBCI hosts workshop on intracranial EEG analysis

In our first event, the CNBCI will host a workshop on intracranial EEG analysis on October 18, 2022. The workshop will teach participants about RAVE – a free, open-source software for analysis and visualization of intracranial EEG data.

It will start with a seminar by Dr. Michael Beauchamp (U. of Pennsylvania) in the Neurology Grand Rounds at 8 am in the West Pavilion Conference Center Room E and on Zoom, titled “RAVE: A new tool for iEEG analysis and visualization.” All are welcome to attend.

This will be followed by a hands-on workshop from 10 am – 5 pm in the 4th Floor Atrium of the Lister Hill Library (Center for Teaching and Learning, formerly Edge of Chaos). 

The RAVE workshop caters to new and potential iEEG users, and drop-ins are welcome. No experience with R or Matlab is needed.

Contact workshop organizer Dr. Adam Goodman (Dept. Neurology) or the CNBCI for more information.

Announcing the new UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces!

The UAB Center for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces (CNBCI) became a new pilot University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center on October 1, 2022.

CNBCI Leadership: Director Dr. Lynn Dobrunz (Neurobiology), Co-Director Dr. Nicole Bentley (Neurosurgery), Associate Director Dr. Mark Bolding (Radiology) & Associate Director Dr. William “Jamie” Tyler (Biomedical Engineering).

To join the CNBCI, please complete the JOIN US! form. 

The CNBCI was developed from activities of the Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interface Initiative (NBCII), which was started in January, 2021. If you were previously an NBCII member, your membership has already been transferred to the CNBCI.

Save these dates! 

Tuesday, October 18, 2022: RAVE Workshop

On Tuesday, October 18, 2022 the CNBCI will host a workshop on intracranial EEG analysis. The workshop will teach participants about RAVE – a free, open-source software for analysis and visualization of intracranial EEG data. First is a seminar on RAVE by Michael Beauchamp, Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, in the Neurology Grand Rounds at 8 am in the West Pavilion Conference Center Room E and on Zoom. This is followed by a hands-on workshop from 10 am – 5 pm in the 4th Floor Atrium of the Lister Hill Library.  The workshop caters to new and potential iEEG users, and drop-ins are welcome. Contact workshop organizer Dr. Adam Goodman (Dept. Neurology) for more information.

March 30-31, 2023: NeuroGateways 2023 Symposium

On March 30-31, 2023, the CNBCI will host the NeuroGateways 2023 Symposium at the UAB Alumni House. The symposium will bring together UAB and external experts to discuss the latest discoveries, clinical applications and business opportunities in NeuroRehabilitation, NeuroModulation & NeuroData.

Visit NeuroGateways.com for more information.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

On other fronts:

  • The CNBCI will now formally lead all the activities formerly run by the Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interface Initiative (NBCII).  
  • The Brain-Computer Interface Special Interest Group (BCI-SIG) is led by Dr. Arie Nakhmani (Electrical and Computer Engineering).
  • The Neuroengineering Seminar Series, currently on hiatus, will be restarting soon. It will be led by Dr. Rachel Smith (Electrical and Computer Engineering).
  • The CNBCI is starting a new group called Blazers for Optical Tools (BOTS). The goal of this group is to bring together UAB researchers (faculty and trainees) who study the function of neural circuits using optical techniques such as in vivo optogenetics, fiber photometry, mini-scopes, and other approaches. BOTS will be led by Dr. Andrew Hardaway (Psychiatry).

Neuroengineering PhD Program Priority Application Deadline Extended to December 15, 2021

The UAB Neuroengineering PhD Program is recruiting students to start in the fall of 2022. The Neuroengineering PhD program combines UAB’s expertise in neuroscience and engineering to train a new generation of students in neuroengineering and computational neuroscience. This will enable them to advance our understanding of brain function and disorders, and to develop novel therapeutics, neural prosthetics, and tools to restore nervous system function and improve patient outcomes.

The Neuroengineering Program Priority Application Deadline has been extended to December 15, 2021. GRE scores are not required.

Apply through the UAB Graduate School Apply Now portal, which can be accessed by clicking here.

The final application deadline is February 1, 2022.

Applicants typically have a background in neuroscience, engineering, or a related field, and have a BS, MS, or MD degree.

For more information, visit our website at https://www.uab.edu/engineering/home/neuroengineering or email us at neuroeng@uab.edu

New UAB Neuroengineering PhD Program

UAB is launching a new PhD Program in Neuroengineering. This innovative program will be jointly offered by the School of Engineering and School of Medicine.

It is a first-of-its kind program in the state of Alabama and one of the only freestanding neuroengineering doctoral programs in the country.

This program integrates advanced topics in such areas as neurophysiology, neural dynamics, neuropathology, systems engineering, computational analysis, advanced imaging, and data analysis. By combining faculty expertise in neurobiology, neuroscience, engineering and the sciences we are training a new generation of neuroengineers to advance understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and other brain diseases and develop novel therapeutics, neuroprosthetics, and tools to restore lost brain function and improve patient outcomes.

UPDATE: Final program approval received in June, 2020. Click here for more information.