2013 International Workshop on Clinical Brain-Neural Machine Interface Systems

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Breakthroughs in the decoding of brain activity using microelectrode arrays in non-human primates and humans, and noninvasive electroencephalography in humans, now enable relatively accurate predictions of upper and lower limb movements. As a consequence, peripheral nervous system interfaces are now being developed to reliably control prosthetic limbs. However, translational efforts to bring these technologies to end-users are confronted with important regulatory, scientific, engineering, clinical, ethical, and financial challenges that stakeholders need to better understand. This is partial support for an International Workshop on Clinical Brain Neural-Machine Interface Systems (BMI, for short) intended to identify and discuss current challenges and potential solutions leading to the development and deployment of interface systems based on neural activity in clinical/home applications. The meeting will be organized by the University of Houston and held at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (TMHRI) in the Texas Medical Center (Houston), on February 24-27, 2013. The workshop will bring together expert speakers (at both junior and senior levels) and discussants representing the forefront of BMI research, rehabilitation clinicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, engineers, computer scientists, neuroscientists, program managers at federal agencies, representatives of the industrial sector, end-users and other stakeholders for discussions and interaction in an academic setting with the goal of developing a strategic plan ("roadmap") to bring BMI systems out of the lab and into the clinic/home. Topics to be explored will include: what are the clinical needs and application "pulls" that require BMIs (the "market"); what is the best approach for uncovering basic mechanisms and validating BMI systems technology; what are the scientific, engineering and regulatory challenges that affect clinical use of BMIs, and potential solutions; what are the needs of patients who could benefit from this co-robot technology; how to address potential ethical concerns regarding the use of BMI systems to enhance the body/brain; and how to train the next generation of students in neural and rehabilitation engineering.Broader Impacts: A "roadmap" summarizing the findings of the workshop will be submitted for peer-review to Frontiers in Neuroprosthetics, a first-tier electronic open access journal devoted to BMI systems. To this end, faculty and graduate students from selected university science writing programs will be invited to blog and write summaries of the group interactions and final group briefings during the workshop; these summaries, edited by the discussants, will serve as drafts of the consensus attained by the participants (minority opinions will also be included). This roadmap will serve as a guide to program managers at federal agencies to develop funding opportunities and support mechanisms to enhance and accelerate the deployment of clinical BMI systems. The workshop organizers will actively recruit participants from under-represented groups, including women and minorities, and across institutions, to ensure that their voice is heard.