Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology

Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology


Research in Therapeautic and Reparative Neurotechnology focuses on biologically inspired technologies to interface with the nervous system to repair and promote recovery of lost function after trauma or disease. Research in this area includes behavioral studies, electrophysiology techniques, computational neuroscience, and machine learning methods to determine the mechanism of disease, to create new research paradigms and develop new treatments.

Research also spans both pre-clinical (i.e., animal) and clinical (i.e., human) neural engineering and neuropathophysiology, and includes investigations of motor and sensory function before, during, and after neuroprosthetic, pharmacological, and physical therapy-based interventions.

Current efforts focus on leveraging the differential effects of brainstem neuromodulatory centers on spinal motor and sensory circuits to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying neurological impairments. Topics of particular interest within this area include:

  • Pathologies: stroke, spinal cord injury, whiplash associated disorders, and chronic pain.
  • Physiology: neuromodulation (chemical and electrical), cortical and spinal reorganization, function and integrity of motor and sensory pathways post-injury, and activity-dependent neural plasticity.
  • Techniques: robotics/quantification of motor deficits, biophysical signal processing, recurrent neural-computer interfaces, neuropharmacology, physical therapy, electrical stimulation of the central nervous system, magnetic resonance imaging.
Raj Pulugurtha, Ph.D.

Raj Pulugurtha, Ph.D.

Associate Professor | Certified Hybrid Instructor

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Advancements: Electronic and Bioelectronic Packaging, Flex and 3D packaging with Heterogeneous System Integration for Emerging Biomedical, Communication and Computing systems, Wearable and Implantable Medical Devices, Advanced Passive Components, Vertical Power Delivery, 5G and 6G Systems Packaging, Antenna Sensor Integration, Power and Data Telemetry, Hermetic Packaging, Interconnects and Connectors
Research Area: Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology
Lab: Bioelectronic and Electronic Packaging Lab
Dr. Jorge Riera, Associate Professor | Interim Chair of Biomedical Engineering

Jorge Riera, Ph.D.

Associate Professor | Interim Chair of Biomedical Engineering

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Interests: Biophysical Foundations of Neuroimaging in Normal Aging and Brain Disorders
Research Advancements: Jorge Riera is making strides in treating multiple brain disorders.
Research Area: Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology
Lab: Neuronal Mass Dynamics Laboratory

Oleksii Shandra, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Interests: Mechanisms of seizure generation, propagation, generalization and termination, Excitotoxic and metabolic abnormalities in the brain as a cause and/or consequence of seizures, Cellular and molecular processes involved in the neurobiology of sleep in health and disease and Calcium signaling in neurons and astrocytes in the context of excitatory and inhibitory transmission
Research Advancements: Oleksii Shandra has characterized a mouse model of post-traumatic epilepsy after repeated diffuse traumatic brain injury and a technique for live brain multi-photon imaging and single-cell laser stimulation to study astrocyte calcium signaling before and after brain injury. Dr. Shandra examines electrophysiological and imaging biomarkers of epileptogenesis and pathophysiological mechanisms of the astrocyte-neuron networks.
Research Area: Arrays and silicone probes, Live brain multi-photon microscopy, Preclinical models of traumatic brain injury, sleep deprivation and acquired epilepsy, Use of transgenic mice and adeno-associated viruses, Immunohistochemical assays and confocal microscopy, MATLAB-based algorithms for spike and seizure detection and power spectrum analysis, Drug screening, Deep brain stimulation, Transcranial magnetic brain stimulation
Lab: Shandra Lab
Dr. Nikolaos Tsoukias, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University

Nikolaos Tsoukias, Ph.D.

Professor

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Interests: Computational and mathematical modeling, biotransport, signal transduction, cardiovascular and respiratory systems physiology
Research Advancements: Nikolaos Tsoukias studies neuromuscular coupling.
Research Area: Engineered Tissue Model Systems
Lab: Vascular Physiology and Biotransport
Dr. Anuradha Godavarty, Associate Professor & Undergraduate Program Director, Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University

Anuradha Godavarty, Ph.D.

Professor | Certified Hybrid Instructor

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Interests: Optical-based molecular imaging (fluorescence-enhanced optical imaging) and tomography.
Research Advancements: Anuradha Godavarty is developing a low-cost hand-held wound healing assessment and conducting clinical studies.
Research Area: Diagnostic Bioimaging Sensor Systems
Lab: Optical Imaging Laboratory (OIL)

Heidi Mansour, Ph.D. - Secondary Appointment

Professor

Download Curriculum VitaeResearch Interests: Design and development of targeted drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, translational medicine, advanced particle engineering design technologies, and inhalation aerosols.
Research Advancements: Innovative inhalation aerosols as advanced inhalable microparticles/nanoparticles in airway and vascular diseases, lung surfactant multifunctional nanocarriers, nose-to-brain noninvasive therapeutic delivery, and biodegradable/biocompatible polymers for sustained-release delivery peptides/proteins/biologics.

Research Area: Research in Engineered Tissue Model Systems and Therapeutic and Reparative Neurotechnology
Lab: Mansour Lab