NSERC CREATE Training Program in Neuroengineering

中枢神经系统(CNS)的损伤，无论是由创伤还是疾病造成的，都是非常难以修复的。仅外伤性中枢神经系统和外周神经系统(PNS)损伤每年就影响超过25万加拿大人，往往导致终身残疾。CREATE团队的目标是探索一种治疗神经系统损伤的新策略。Create团队汇集了化学家、物理学家、生物医学工程师、电气工程师和神经科学家，以产生创新的技术来研究轴突引导和突触发生的机制，并开发利用合成基质上突触的输出信号来控制效应器器官的新技术。对神经工程学的需求源于神经科学家和物理学家/工程师之间普遍存在的研究和培训差距。尤其重要的是“工具建造者”和“工具使用者”之间的差距，所讨论的工具范围从先进的成像技术到微流体等样品处理技术，再到纳米材料。有效的方法开发需要在“工具建造者”和“工具使用者”之间建立一个强大的反馈循环。因此，神经工程学-Create培训计划具有许多非课程经验以及方法和技术方面的培训。这一培训计划的毕业生将发展出一套独特的技能，远远超出他们研究生和博士后培训的正式部分--包括“加速器”短期课程、新工具/技术研讨会、知识产权/行业研讨会和“弥合差距”会议。因此，神经工程/Create的毕业生将在生物医疗设备行业、政府监管机构和学术界担任领导角色。

Injury to the central nervous system (CNS), whether sustained by trauma or disease, is extraordinarily difficult to repair. Traumatic CNS and PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) injury alone affects more than 250,000 Canadians per year, often leading to lifelong disability. The goal defined by this CREATE team is to explore a novel strategy for treating nervous system injury. The CREATE team brings together chemists, physicists, biomedical engineers, electrical engineers, and neuroscientists to generate innovative techniques to study mechanisms of axon guidance and synaptogenesis as well as to develop new techniques for using the output signals from synapses on synthetic matrices to control effector organs. The need for a CREATE in Neuroengineering arises from the widely acknowledged research and training gap that exists between neuroscientists and physical scientists/engineers. Of particularly importance is the gap between "tool-builders" and "tool-users", where the tools in question range from advanced imaging techniques, to sample manipulation techniques such as microfluidics, to nanomaterials. Effective methods development requires a robust feedback loop between the "tool-builders" and "tool-users". The Neuroengineering-CREATE training program thus features a number of non-curriculum based experiences and training in methods and techniques. A graduate of this training program will have developed a unique set of skills that go far beyond the formal portion of their graduate and postdoctoral training - including "accelerator" short courses, workshops in new tools/techniques, IP/industry workshops, and 'Bridging-the-Gap' meetings. Graduates from Neuroengineering/CREATE will thus be well-positioned to take on leadership roles in the biomedical devices industry, government regulatory directorates, and academia.