Science and Technology for Advanced Neural Prostheses; Pilar, Argentina, August 3-14, 2009

由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）和美国能源部（DOE）联合支持的泛美高级研究所（PASI）奖项将于2009年8月3日至14日在阿根廷的皮拉尔举行。PASI由美国阿贡国家实验室的Orlando Auciello博士组织，将讨论先进神经假肢的关键发展，这些假肢可以对改善个人群体的生活质量产生重大影响，即：1)视网膜假体装置可使遗传性视网膜光感受器变性致盲的人恢复视力；2)人工耳蜗可使耳蜗自然声音传感器变性受损的人恢复听力；3)感觉神经刺激可使外伤性神经变性瘫痪的人恢复运动功能。该活动将为开发先进的神经假体提供基础，通过改进电极材料，设计和整合生物物质来生产生物启发电极，从而为细胞提供生物界面。本次PASI的预期成果将包括：汇集跨学科专业知识（物理、化学、材料、科学、电子、生物学、眼、耳和神经刺激专家以及外科医生）的研究人员，讨论当前神经假体的科学和技术，以及开发新材料、假体结构和生物接口的方法，这些方法对开发先进神经假体的智能仿生电极至关重要。该PASI的结果将通过阿贡国家实验室的网站发布。

This Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) award, jointly supported by the NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE), will take place August 3-14, 2009 in Pilar, Argentina. Organized by Dr. Orlando Auciello of the Argonne National Laboratory, the PASI will address the critical development of advanced neural prostheses that can make a major impact on improving the quality of life of groups of individuals, namely: 1) retinal prosthetic devices to restore sight to people blinded by inherited degeneration of retina photoreceptors, 2) cochlear prostheses to restore hearing to people impaired by degeneration of the natural sounds sensors in the cochlea, and 3) sensory nerve stimulations for restoration of motor function in people paralyzed by traumatic nerve degeneration. The activity will provide the bases for developing advanced neural prostheses via improvement of electrode materials, design and integration with bio-matter to produce bio-inspired electrodes that will provide a bio-interface to cells. Expected outcomes in this PASI will include: the bringing together of researchers with interdisciplinary expertise (physics, chemistry, materials, science, electronics, biology, eye, ear, and nerve stimulation specialists, and surgeons) to discuss the science and technology of current neural prostheses and the approaches to develop new materials, prosthesis architectures, and bio-interfaces critical to the development of smart bio-inspired electrodes for advanced neural prostheses. Results from this PASI will be disseminated through a website at Argonne National Laboratory.