Archive for category: Alumni

Seth Currlin
Ph.D. student
Interdisciplinary Science with specialization in Neuroscience
scurrlin@ufl.edu
Neural implants and neural stimulation
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Dr. Janak Gaire
Post-Doc
Neuroscience
jgaire@ufl.edu
Tissue-device interfaces and neural implants
[expand title=”Read more”] Janak completed his B.S. in Biology, with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Texas in 2010. For a year, he worked with Dr. Guenter W. Gross at Center for Network Neuroscience to develop ways to increase the durability of microelectrode array plate. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Department of Neuroscience at University of Florida (UF). Before transferring to UF in August 2014, he joined the Neuroprostheses Research Laboratory at Purdue University in summer of 2012. He is interested in improving the functional longevity of the implanted devices and currently working on evaluating tissue response to brain-implanted devices.

Research Abstract:

Intracortical microelectrode devices provide a brain machine interface capable of targeting very small populations of neurons with a potential to treat many neurological disorders. These penetrating devices generally perform well for a short duration but fail to record or stimulate reliably for chronic time putatively due to reactive tissue response (RTR). The loss of chronic functional reliability is a major hurdle for successful clinical implementation. I am interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying device failure. My research focuses on employing novel techniques and models to investigate biological mechanisms underlying device failure. I have been involved in developing novel imaging techniques (both in situ and in vivo imaging techniques) and mouse models to evaluate biological changes surrounding the implanted devices.

Download Janak Gaire’s Curriculum Vitae
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Matthew McDermott
Ph.D. student
Biomedical Engineering
m.mcdermott1984@ufl.edu
Drug delivery, and brain-machine interfaces
[expand title=”Read more”] Matthew completed his B.S. in Chemistry at Purdue University in 2007, while also receiving a minor in Biology. He worked for two years at Akina Inc. where he developed homologous PLGA micro and nano particles for the use in sustained release drug therapies. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, in the Biological Sciences Doctoral Track through the Biomedical Engineering Department. He joined the NPR Lab in the fall of 2010 researching polymer coatings and drug delivery across the brain machine interface.

Research Abstract:

After implantation of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) into the brain, the foreign body response (FBR) is activated, ultimately leading to microglial activation, astrocyte migration, and inflammation. This response is expected to have an effect upon device performance, decreasing signal to noise and increasing impedance. Research in the field has been conducted to mitigate this response, either by drug delivery or altering the MEA brain interface. For these methods to work, drug release must be controlled, without “burst release”, and the coating must not drastically increase the device footprint. Tetramethyl orthosilicate shows promise in that regard. Deposition of TMOS does not negatively MEA performance^1,2 and has been shown capable of controlled release². However, the functionality of this polymer to mitigate the FBR depends on the ability to tune drug delivery without increasing the device footprint. In this study, novel coating paradigms were used to ascertain the ability of TMOS for tunable delivery, and the effect of these multiple coatings upon device footprint.

Download Matthew McDermott’s Curriculum Vitae[/expand]