Integrated Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation Training Program

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This proposal describes our “Integrated Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation Training” program that produces biomedical engineering Ph.D. graduates who combine state-of-the-art expertise in neural engineering (an area of bioengineering) with a genuine appreciation of the practice and challenges of clinical rehabilitation. This T32 is centered in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University, but also includes the strong participation of several of our local medical centers. Our T32 is focused exclusively on predoctoral training - having trained 76 students since 1999. We are requesting funding for 2 supplemental predoctoral positions for one year, with institutional funds to support their second year in the training program. We expect to train a total 8 BME Ph.D. students per year with this added supplement to our program. Trainees enter with undergraduate training in engineering or a closely related discipline. They satisfy the rigorous requirements of the BME Ph.D. program and benefit from its existing features, while our T32 program adds value through highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects, a clinical immersion experience, and unique access to visiting seminar speakers. We are creating a virtual reality-based Neural Anatomy course (exploiting our unique relationship with the Microsoft HoloLens program), including formal and informal diversity training, and diversifying out mentoring pool with more faculty with industry experience, underrepresented trainers, to facilitate the recruitment and training of women, minorities, and disadvantaged students to the program. The specific objectives of our training program are: (1) Prepare our trainees for productive careers in rehabilitation and neural engineering; (2) Provide a rigorous engineering education that forms the basis for future innovation; (3) Provide specific expertise in the development and application of neural stimulation and interventions for overcoming neurological disorders; (4) Provide specific expertise in modeling and simulation; (5) Provide an extensive, hands-on clinical immersion experience that prepares each trainee for a translational career; (6) Provide specific expertise in the deployment and integration of Brain Computer Interfaces; and (7) Provide real-world professional development training to enhance post-graduation success. We have assembled a distinguished group of mentors who serve in one of three roles: Research Training mentors (17) who are the primary research advisors of the trainees, Associate Research Training Mentors (5) who are content experts on T32 trainee committees, and Clinical Training Mentors (12) from rehabilitation and surgical disciplines who insure the clinical relevance of each trainee research project. We are in the process of adding new mentors (3) to further diversity the mentor pool. Trainee project topics include electrode development; brain computer interfacing; sensory restoration; pain management; stimulation pattern design; neural motor control mechanisms; neural biomaterials, protection, and repair; interventions to individuals with neurological disorders; neurorehabilitation; modeling and simulation; and brain-computer interfacing.