Neuromodulation and Imaging of Neuronal Circuits – NINC

Topics

• Novel neuromodulation approaches for brain, eye, spine, peripheral nerve or cranial nerve modulation. These include novel implanted electrical modulation such as closed loop systems, novel electrode technology, magnetic stimulation technologies (invasive or noninvasive), laser and other light induced stimulation approaches including optogenetic technologies.
• New methodologies to refine existing neuromodulation technology or to yield novel readouts for neuromodulation technology.
• Radiosurgery using Gamma knife or other radiation-induced modulation.
• Neuro-ablation using infra-red modalities.
• Focused ultrasound technology development for imaging, neuromodulation, and ablation.
• Development of optical microscopy and other imaging modalities, such as high/super-resolution, NIRs and adaptive optics, for visualizing brain, neural cells and circuitry utilizing light/optical approaches.
• Development of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), ultrasound and photo-acoustic imaging for use in the brain
• EEG technology development including analytical techniques.
• Safety engineering for devices such as TMS and deep brain stimulation
• Combination of Imaging modalities including MRI, fMRI, PET, and EEG source imaging for brain mapping/pre-surgical brain mapping.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests in development of MRI and fMRI techniques for use in the brain with Imaging Technologies in Neuroscience (ITN). Applications that emphasize utilizing MRI in combination with another modality such as EEG or ultrasound the applications are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize solely on MRI are reviewed in ITN.

There are shared interests in optical, OCT and photoacoustic imaging with Imaging and Bioengineering Technology for Visual Systems (IBV). Applications that emphasize brain imaging are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize predominantly the eye are reviewed in IBV.

There are shared interests in brain recording and stimulation in experimental and clinical contexts, e.g., monitoring and modulation of epileptic seizures with Bioengineering and Tissue Engineering for Neuroscience (BTEN). Applications that emphasize proposing ultrasound, magnetic, infrared, or other noninvasive modalities of stimulation are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize brain-invasive monitoring (e.g., recording brain activity) and neuromodulation via implanted devices, typically using electrical and/or optical stimulation modalities are reviewed in BTEN in addition to applications that emphasize the delivery of such stimuli involves implantation of probes or other devices into the brain.

There are shared interests in imaging technology development with Image Guided Interventions and Surgery (IGIS). Applications that emphasize improved diagnostics, with interventions meant to happen at later time are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize developing imaging agents, immunomodulation and computational approaches, ultrasound, optical, PET/SPECT, X-ray, CT and MRI imaging technologies for better guiding interventions, including brain interventions and surgery are reviewed in IGIS in addition to applications that emphasize developing improved guidance of the interventions and surgery.

There are shared interests in imaging and computational approaches to medical imaging with Clinical Data Management and Analysis (CDMA). Applications that focus on creating or developing multimodal imaging or computational approaches to medical imaging based on TMS, tDCS and optogenetics are reviewed in NINC. Applications focus on imaging from electronic health records and with clinical outcomes are reviewed in CDMA.

There are shared interests in image analysis and processing with Neuro Informatics, Computational and Data Analysis (NICD). Applications that emphasize other scientific, technical, and translational aspects of the technology are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize computation image processing are reviewed in NICD.

There are shared interests in the use of imaging and other technological methods in the study of epilepsy, TBI, stroke, and SCI with Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disorders (BIND). Applications that emphasize bioengineering developments in noninvasive medical technologies, the combination of imaging modalities for brain mapping, and creation or development of computational and mathematical models are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize evaluating the efficacy of their use as neurological outcome measures in epilepsy, TBI, stroke, and SCI are reviewed in BIND.

There are shared interests in neuromodulation technologies with Clinical Neurodegeneration Translational Neuroscience (CNTN). Applications that emphasize development, validation, optimization, and testing novel brain stimulation and modulation technologies such as DBS, TMS, tDCS, etc., are reviewed in NINC. Applications that emphasize using established neuromodulatory/stimulatory technologies in measurement and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are reviewed in CNTN.