Dr. Kathryn Davis, co-founder of the CNT, was featured on NeurologyLive where she discusses one of the main topics of conversation among epileptologists at this year’s American Epilepsy Society annual meeting: the influx of novel therapies and treatment options.
Click here to watch the video.
For more on Dr. Davis, visit her website.
Dayo Adewole, Ph.D. candidate and trainee to Dr. Brian Litt’s NaM T32 Training Grant has co-founded the innovative company InstaHub along with co-founder Michael Wong.
InstaHub is an automated system that uses machine learning to turn off light switches and help users lower energy expenses as well as their carbon footprint. Dayo and Michael have participated in multiple accelerators, received various grants/investments, appeared on radio shows and won multiple competitions for InstaHub.
View InstaHub’s website here.
The Department of Bioengineering hosted the Bioengineering 
Graduate Group Research Symposium on Tuesday, January 8th. The event was organized with the help of P.h.D student and lab member Brittany Scheid (right) who acted as Co-Chair.
Ph.D. student and lab member Nicolette Driscoll (left) gave a talk titled “Carbon nanomaterials for neural interfaces” which was awarded 2nd place out of all student research talks.
Dr. Brian Litt has been chosen as an Invited Speaker at this year’s Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting in Boston, MA.
The title of his talk is Engineering the Next Generation of Neurodevices—New Materials and Clinical Translation.
Abstract: The incidence of neurological disorders like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia, addiction, and major mental illness is growing, as the world’s population ages. Response to medications for these conditions has plateaued, paving the way for a revolution in implantable devices as the next wave of effective treatments for these “brain network disorders.” Key to developing these new devices are advances in computation, batteries, sensors and closed loop algorithms. New and more versatile materials are one of the main requirements and drivers of innovation in new medical devices and technologies. In this lecture I will outline major applications in the area of neurodevices/ brain computer interfaces, present unmet needs, and discuss the path to clinically translate innovations from the laboratory to patients. I will give examples from our own research and other labs on this path, touch on common failure modes and novel tools for collaboration, bringing engineers, clinicians and industry together to advance clinical care.
For more information of the 2018 MRS Fall Meeting: website
to announce the Doctoral Dissertation Defense of Preya Shah.
Brian Litt, MD and the Neuroscience School of Advanced Studies (NSAS) will be hosting a 5-day workshop ‘Epilepsy: Advanced Technology for Clinicians’ on the Island of San Servolo in Venice, Italy from October 5-10, 2018.
In this workshop, world clinician-experts in engineering, neuroscience and clinical neurology present the latest tools for state-of-the-art epilepsy care and present cases to demonstrate their use. By the end of the workshop attendees will learn how to apply: (1) the newest imaging and electrophysiology techniques to map brain structure and function, (2) novel tools to link imaging with intracranial electrodes, (3) new surgical techniques for focal therapy including laser, radiofrequency ablation and focused ultrasound, and (4) the newest implantable antiepileptic devices.
For more information on the workshop: https://www.nsas.it/workshops2018/workshops/epilepsy/
To register for the workshop: https://www.nsas.it/workshops2018/application/
Presenting Faculty :
Mark Cook, University of Melbourne, Australia
Gregory A. Worrell, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
John Duncan, UCL, London, UK
Matthias Koepp, UCL, London, UK
Robert Gross, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
Timothy Lucas, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
Kathryn Davis, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
Brian Litt, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
Dr. Brian Litt has been invited as keynote speaker to the 2018 Gordon Research Seminar ‘Insights Into Mechanisms and Therapies for Epilepsy’ in West Dover, Vermont.
The topic of this year’s Keynote Session is “Translating New Technology in Epilepsy” and Dr. Litt’s talk is titled “Network Models to Guide Epilepsy Surgery”.
For more information on the GRS: https://www.grc.org/mechanisms-of-epilepsy-and-neuronal-synchronization-grs-conference/2018/
Applications are now being accepted by Penn Health-Tech and the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation for funding to support medical device development projects that address unmet clinical needs.
Possible project proposals may include:
Projects that cross departments, schools, and promote sharing expertise are strongly encouraged.
Selected teams will receive:
Funding of up to $50,000Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2018.
For more information: https://healthtech.upenn.edu/
Dr. Flavia Vitale has been awarded the McCabe Fellow Award on July 13, 2018.The McCabe awards were established in 1969 by a generous gift from Mr. Thomas B. McCabe and Mrs. Jeannette E. Laws McCabe to the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM). The purpose of this gift is to support junior faculty who initiate fresh and innovative biomedical and surgical research projects.
For more information: http://www.med.upenn.edu/evdresearch/mccabefundawardprogram.html
Dr. Flavia Vitale has been appointed as Assistant Professor within the Department of Neurology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) at The University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Vitale is a core collaborator in the Litt Lab with research focused on nanofabrication and development of novel bioelectronic devices for recording and neuromodulation in the brain.
