Building Better Brains: Neural Prosthetics and Beyond

描述（由申请人提供）：纽约科学院（NYAS）计划于2010年9月23日至25日在科罗拉多州阿斯彭的阿斯彭研究所举办一场重要的科学会议，名为“构建更好的大脑：神经假肢及其他”。本次会议的主要研究者是匹兹堡大学神经生物系教授安德鲁·施瓦茨博士。科学组织委员会的其他成员包括加州理工学院James G. Boswell神经科学教授Richard Andersen博士和凯斯西储大学Donnell生物医学工程和骨科教授P. Hunter Peckham博士。使用神经义肢来代替因疾病或损伤而丧失的运动、感觉或认知功能，具有很大的治疗前景。然而，神经义肢尚未广泛应用于人体。本次会议将重点介绍人类神经义肢设备的最新发展，并将仔细审查目前使用神经义肢治疗的障碍，以及相关的伦理和监管问题。本次研讨会将汇集内科医生、神经外科医生、神经生物学家、认知神经科学家、计算机科学家、数学家、生物工程师、伦理学家和监管官员，以增加对开发有效神经假肢所固有问题的理解。预计这次会议还将增加基础研究人员和医生之间的合作和交流，并将包括向科学界和非专业公众/患者进行详细和广泛的传播。议程确定的与会者都是各自领域的世界知名专家。我们会议的目标是发展和传播信息，以提高对患者治疗可行的神经假体装置的利用。会议议程将讨论下列问题：1)介绍基础神经生物学研究的最新进展，为神经义肢的发展提供信息；2)概述生物工程和材料方面的前沿发现，这些发现将允许开发在人体内有效运作的神经义肢装置；3)讨论如何改进神经义肢的临床试验结果；4)与在人体中使用神经义肢相关的独特监管和伦理问题；5)如何使用神经义肢治疗疾病，不仅包括神经退行性疾病和瘫痪，还包括抑郁症和癫痫。参与者将包括成熟和年轻的职业科学家，为年轻人进入这一领域提供了一个平台。此外，会议内容将通过电子和印刷传播材料提供给更广泛的受众，包括普通公众。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The New York Academy of Science (NYAS) is planning an important scientific conference entitled, Building Better Brains: Neural Prosthetics and Beyond, to be held September 23-25, 2010 at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, CO. The principal investigator for this conference grant is Andrew Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh. Other members of the scientific organizing committee are Richard Andersen, Ph.D., the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, and P. Hunter Peckham, Ph.D., Donnell Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopedics, Case Western Reserve University. The use of neural prosthetics to replace motor, sensory, or cognitive functions lost by disease or injury holds great therapeutic promise. However, neural prosthetics have not yet been widely used in humans. This meeting will highlight the most cutting-edge developments on neural prosthetic devices for humans and a will include a careful review of the current obstacles to using neural prosthetics therapeutically, as well as the related ethical and regulatory issues. This symposium will bring together physicians, neurosurgeons, neurobiologists, cognitive neuroscientists, computer scientists, mathematicians, bioengineers, ethicists, and regulatory officials to increase understanding of the issues inherent in developing effective neural prosthetics. This meeting is also expected to increase collaborations and communications among basic researchers and physicians, and will include detailed and extensive dissemination for both the scientific community and lay public/patients. The agenda lists confirmed participants who are all world-renowned experts in their fields. The goal of our conference is to develop and disseminate information that will enhance the utilization of neural prosthetic devices that are therapeutically viable for patients. The conference agenda will address the following issues; 1) presentation of the most recent advances in basic neurobiological research to inform development of neural prosthetics, 2) an overview of cutting edge discoveries in bioengineering and materials that will allow for the development of neural prosthetic devices that function effectively within the human body, 3) discussion of how to improve upon the clinical trial results on neural prosthetics, 4) the unique regulatory and ethical problems that are associated with using neural prosthetics in people, and 5) how to use neural prosthetics to treat disorders including not only neurodegenerative diseases and paralysis, but also depression and epilepsy. Participants will include both established and young career scientists, providing a platform for young people to enter this field. Furthermore, the meeting content will be available to a wider audience including the general public via the electronic and print dissemination materials. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The use of neural prosthetics to replace motor, sensory, or cognitive functions lost by disease or injury holds great therapeutic promise however this technology have not yet been widely used in humans. The importance of this conference "Building Better Brains: Neural Prosthetics and Beyond" is to bring together a diverse community of experts in neurobiology, bioengineering, and medicine to discuss the immediate issues that need to be addressed for clinical efficacy and use of neural prosthetic devices in patients.