Dayo Adewole co-founder of InstaHub

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.

 

 

BE Graduate Group Research Symposium

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.

Congratulations to Nicki and Brittany on a successful event!
MRS

Dr. Litt as Invited Speaker at the 2018 MRS Fall Meeting

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

Preya Shah

Preya Shah to Present Doctoral Dissertation Defense

The Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Brian Litt are pleasedPreya Shah to announce the Doctoral Dissertation Defense of Preya Shah.
Title: Quantitative multimodal mapping of seizure networks in drug-resistant epilepsy
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2018
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Raisler Lounge, Room 225 Towne Building
The public is welcome to attend.

Advanced Technology for Clinicians Meeting in Venice

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

GRS

Brian Litt, MD Keynote Speaker at 2018 Gordan Research Seminar

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/

Penn Health Tech

Funding for Medical Device Development

Penn Health-Tech Call for Medical Device Development Projects

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:

  • Neurodevices: monitoring and therapeutics
  • Delivery platforms: drug and gene therapy
  • Connected health: sensors, AI/ML, devices, and systems

Projects that cross departments, schools, and promote sharing expertise are strongly encouraged.

Selected teams will receive:

  • Funding of up to $50,000
  • Project support
  • Access to experts

Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

For more information: https://healthtech.upenn.edu/

Perelman School of Medicine

Dr. Flavia Vitale Awarded McCabe Fellow Award

Perelman School of MedicineDr. 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

Flavia Vitale

Dr. Flavia Vitale Appointment to Assistant Professor

Flavia Vitale

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.

Visit the Vitale Lab website here.