NSERC CREATE RADIANT: Rehabilitative and Diagnostic Innovation in Applied Neuro Technologies

神经科学的进步为即将到来的“生物经济时代”提供了前所未有的增长机会，神经技术、神经诊断、神经设备市场以每年4-35%的速度增长。三分之一的人一生中都会受到脑部疾病的影响，医疗保健支出的增长速度是通货膨胀和人口增长速度的两倍多。神经技术包括用于感觉、运动和认知评估和训练的软件和设备、脑成像、脑机接口、针对特定脑部疾病的药物和药物输送系统。神经技术可以通过早期诊断和更有效、更经济的治疗来帮助减轻这些疾病的负担。然而，尽管加拿大在基础神经科学研究方面处于世界领先地位，但却没有系统的培训计划来教授神经科学家如何将他们的发现转化为真正的产品和应用，从而对社会产生广泛的影响。应用神经技术康复和诊断创新（RADIANT） CREATE项目位于达尔豪斯大学理学院，将培养具有创业精神的神经科学家，接受尖端研究技术和技术领导技能的培训。RADIANT将在哈利法克斯不断增长的神经技术集群中创建一个独特的世界级培训环境，该集群是学术研究人员、工业、政府实验室和医院之间现有合作伙伴关系的网络，由超过1.1亿美元的运营和基础设施资金支持。学生将在学术和政府实验室学习研究技能，在医院环境中识别问题和机会，从成功的生物技术商业领袖那里学习创业和商业技能，并通过在行业环境中实习来学习创新和商业的现实。毕业生将具备相应的技能、知识和经验，以弥合具有开发新神经技术应用的科学知识的人与具有将其推向市场的知识和能力的人之间的差距。

Advances in neuroscience offer opportunities for unprecedented growth in the coming "bio-economy era", with the neurotechnology, neurodiagnostics, neurodevices markets expanding at the rate of 4-35% annually. One in three people are affected by brain disorders over their lifetime, and healthcare spending is expanding more than twice as fast as inflation and population growth. Neurotechnologies include software and devices for sensory, motor, and cognitive assessment and training, brain imaging, brain-computer interfaces, drugs and drug delivery systems targeted at specific brain diseases. Neurotechnologies can help reduce the burden of these diseases through earlier diagnosis and more effective and economical treatments. However, while Canada is a world leader in basic neuroscience research, there are no systematic training programs in which neuroscientists are taught how to translate their discoveries into real products and applications that can have a widespread impact on society. The Rehabilitative And Diagnostic Innovation in Applied NeuroTechnology (RADIANT) CREATE program, based in the Faculty of Science at Dalhousie University will produce entrepreneurially-minded neuroscientists trained in cutting-edge research techniques and skilled in technical leadership. RADIANT will create a unique and world-class training environment embedded in Halifax's growing neurotechnology cluster - a network of existing partnerships among academic researchers, industry, government laboratories, and hospitals, supported by over $110 million in operational and infrastructure funding. Students will learn research skills in academic and government labs, problem and opportunity identification in hospital settings, entrepreneurship and business skills from successful biotechnology business leaders, and the realities of innovation and business through internships in industry settings. Graduates will possess the skills, knowledge, and experience to bridge the existing gap between people with the scientific know-how to develop new neurotechnology applications, and those who have the knowledge and ability to bring them to market.