SPEAKERS
Carlo Montemagno, US Keynote #1
Biomedical, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
http://www.cnsi.ucla.edu/institution/personnel?personnel_id=105488
Research
Professor Montemagno's research is focused on the application of nanotechnology to biological systems. He is well known for having engineered and fabricated the first nanobiomechanical motor system. His current research projects are directed at the development of biomolecular motor powered nanoelectromechanical devices, muscle powered MEMS devices, micro-robotics, and the engineering of on-chip detectors for pathogens.
Presentation:
Titel: Energy, environment and efficiency: addressing theengineering trinity by capturing life in materials.
Abstract:Recent advances in our ability to manipulate matter at the scale of individual molecules have created an incredible level of excitement in both the scientific community and the general population. The excitement over this new capability, commonly labeled nanotechnology, is vested in the expectation of the development of new materials and systems that offer unparalleled functionality. Materials that autonomously adapt their shape and physical properties in response to the their surroundings, computers that instead of operating by switching the flow of electrons, manipulate information through the management of the ethereal world of quantum states and, molecular sized machines that actively repair damage to our bodies and function as molecular scale prosthetics are all expectations of nanotechnology. While the question of whether or not this vision is truly achievable is still open, the truth is that much of the expectations for nanotechnology are already realized in living systems. Living systems however, are more than a product of matter manipulation at the molecular scale; the richness of functionality associated with living systems is a direct product of the information generated from both the interactions between molecules and the overall supra-molecular structure of the system. In essence living systems are “living” because of the fusion of nanotechnology and informatics. Living systems result from the precision assembly of matter with prescribed modalities for the transport and transduction of energy/information among supra-molecular clusters. Presented is the concept of engineering synthetic biological systems which are enabled by the precision assembly of the functional building blocks of nature. This powerful technological concept is illuminated through a series of illustrative examples highlighting the application of this strategy toward the engineering of novel environmentally friendly, energy transduction systems. In particular, examples of high efficiency energy transduction systems that can move energy among its different forms, chemical, electrical and solar with unique form factors and ultra high energy densities will be presented. Also discussed will be efforts to commercialize an innovative active filter mechanism that relies on proteins to filter water of ultra-high purity at low costs thus availing this resource to water deprived nations. Finally, the technologies for both engineering and fabricating a biological computer based upon engineered artificial neurons and the harnessing power from cardiac cells will be shown.
Andrew Schwartz, US Session 1 Neuronal Interfaces
Neurobiology
http://motorlab.neurobio.pitt.edu/people.php?name=andy
Research
Schwartz’s research is centered on two aspects of motor control- cerebral mechanisms of volitional arm movement and cortical control of neural prosthetics. His group uses electrode arrays to record action potentials from populations of individual neurons in motor cortical areas while monkeys perform tasks related to reaching and drawing and a variety of hand movements. A number of signal-processing and statistical analyses are performed on these data to extract movement-related information from the recorded activity. He is currently developing prostheses capable of restoring reaching, grasping and manipulation to immobilized individuals.
Presentation:
Title: Useful Signals from Motor Cortex
Over the years, we have shown that detailed predictive information of the arm’s trajectory can be extracted from populations of single unit recordings from motor cortex. Using drawing movements as a behavioral paradigm, these signals have been shown to contain instantaneous velocity information and many of the invariants describing animate movement. Furthermore, this technique can be used to study visuo-perceptual processes taking place as objects are drawn. By developing techniques to record these populations and process the signal in real-time, we have been successful in demonstrating the efficacy of these recordings as a control signal for intended movements in 3D space. Having shown that closed-loop control of a cortical prosthesis can produce very good brain-controlled movements in virtual reality, we have been extending this work to robot control. We are using an anthropomorphic robot arm with our closed-loop system to show how monkeys can control the robot’s movement with direct brain-control in a self-feeding task. The animals controlled the arm continuously in 3D space to reach out to the food and retrieve it to their mouths. Currently we are extending this work to include the control of an artificial wrist and hand. Since the recorded signals are a high fidelity representation of the intended behavior and contain features of animate movement, neural prosthetic devices derived from this technology are capable of producing agile, natural movement.
Recently we have been using the brain-control paradigm to examine learning as it takes place across the network of recorded neurons. Our paradigm allows us to drive neurons to adapt new tuning functions and we can track this process continuously as it takes place. This shows that there are distinct global and local processes taking place as subjects regulate their neural activity when learning to operate novel tools.
Manfred Bijak, AT Session 1 Neuronal Interfaces
Biomedical Engineering and Physics
http://www.zbmtp.meduniwien.ac.at/index.php?id=hpmb&L=0
Research
Bijak’s scientific work focuses on mobilisation of paraplegics through surface stimulation and the development of a multichannel stimulation system. In addition other projects out of the field of Biomedical Engineering, mostly in cooperation with clinical partners from the Vienna Medical School complete his scientific background. He is currently the president of the "International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society"
Presentation:
Titel: Stimulating Eve: The usage of electrical current to reactivate lost body functions
Since mankind started to invent things the dream of improving individuals, may be making them superior, accompanied each step of the technological progress. Science fiction literature and film industry is already ahead of time and presents us various aspects arising from biotechnological interventions. Far away from making people superior research is trying to use technology to cure diseases or give back at least partially lost body functions.
Various approaches are developed to achieve this goal by delivering electrical impulses to the central or peripheral nervous system either through the skin (surface stimulation) or via implanted electrodes. Each approach of course has its advantages and disadvantages. As example the activation of lower extremities after spinal cord injury is discussed in detail, state of the art implanted and surface stimulation systems are compared. Other functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems like implants for activation of upper extremities, bladder stimulation, heart pacemaker, cochlear implants etc might be addressed with focus on the "man-machine interface", the electrode which senses activity in the human body or delivers electrical impulses to elicit desired reactions.
Miguel Nicolelis, US Session 1 Neuronal Interfaces
Physician and Scientist
http://www.neuro.duke.edu/faculty/nicolelis/
Research
Miguel Nicolelis is best known for his pioneering work in "reading monkey thought". He and his colleagues implanted electrode arrays into a monkey's brain that were able to detect the monkey's motor intent and thus able to control reaching and grasping movements performed by a robotic arm. This was possible by decoding signals of hundreds of neurons recorded in volitional areas of the cerebral cortex while the monkey played with a hand-held joystick to move a shape in a video game. These signals were sent to the robot arm, which then mimicked the monkey's movements and thus controlled the game. After a while the monkey realized that thinking about moving the shape was enough and it no longer needed to move the joystick. So it let go of the joystick and controlled the game purely through thought. A system in which brain signals directly control an artificial actuator is commonly referred to as brain-machine interface or brain-computer interface.
Presentation:
In this talk, I will review a series of recent experiments demonstrating the possibility of using real-time computational models to investigate how ensembles of neurons encode motor information. These experiments have revealed that brain-machine interfaces can be used not only to study fundamental aspects of neural ensemble physiology, but they can also serve as an experimental paradigm aimed at testing the design of modern neuroprosthetic devices. I will also describe evidence indicating that continuous operation of a closed-loop brain machine interface, which utilizes a robotic arm as its main actuator, can induce significant changes in the physiological properties of neurons located in multiple motor and sensory cortical areas. This raises the hypothesis of whether the properties of a robot arm, or any other tool, can be assimilated by neuronal representations as if they were simple extensions of the subject's own body.
Niels Birbaumer, DE Session 1 Neuronal Interfaces
Psychology
http://www.mp.uni-tuebingen.de/mp/index.php?id=62
Research
Birbaumer’s research focuses on neuronal plasticity and learning; Neurophysiological communication systems for motor paralysis (Brain-Computer-Interface); Behavioral medicine of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease; Amyotrohpic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and pain: Slow cortical potentials and psychological processes; Analysis and modification of anxiety and antisocial behavior; Self-regulation of electrical and magnetic and metabolic brain processes; Psychophysiology and behavior modification of chronic pain states; Neuropsychology of musical talent; Neural network models of brain activity, cognitive processes and non-linear dynamics; Functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI) and learning; Magnetoencephalography (MEG) of cognitive and emotional processes, fetal brain processes and behavior; diabetes and brain processes.
Presentation:
Titel: Complete Silence: Brain-Computer-Interfaces and Paralysis
Abstract:The presentation summarizes recent work on the application of Brain Computer interfaces in Paralysis, Locked-In Syndrome and chronic stroke. Reasons for problems of brain communication in completely locked in patients are given and new data to solve the problem of "extinction of goal directed thinking" are discussed. The surprisingly good results in chronic stroke and movement restoration will be presented.Future applications of fMRI-BCI in psychiatry, neurology and psychology are illustrated with data from our lab.
Uwe Sleytr, AT Session 2 Nanobiotechnology
Nanobiotechnology
https://forschung.boku.ac.at/fis/suchen.person_uebersicht?sprache_in=en&menue_id_in=101&id_in=2958
Research
Sleytr’s expertise: General Microbiology; Membrane Technology; Studies on the Structure, Chemistry, Genetics, Function and Application Potential of S-Layers; Biomimetics; Nanobiotechnology;
Presentation:
Crystalline bacterial cell surface layer (S-layer) proteins have been optimized during billions of years of biological evolution as constituent elements of bacterial and archaeal cell envelopes.
The broad application potential of S-layers in nanobiotechnology is based on the specific intrinsic features of the monomolecular arrays composed of identical protein or glycoprotein subunits. Most important physicochemical properties and functional groups on the protein lattice are arranged in well-defined positions. Many applications of S-layers depend on the capability of isolated subunits to reassemble into monomolecular arrays in suspension or on suitable surfaces (e.g. polymers, metals, silicon wafers) or interfaces (e.g. lipid films, liposomes).
S-layers also represent a unique structural basis and patterning element for generating more complex supramolecular structures involving all major classes of biological molecules (e.g. proteins, lipids, glycans, nucleic acids or combinations of that). The biomimetic approach, copying the supramolecular building principle of S-layer-associated plasma membranes developed by archaea, offers manifold application potentials as far as to novel technologies for the generation of functional lipid membranes and biomimetic virus envelopes.
Thus, S-layers fulfil key requirements as building blocks and patterning elements for the production of new supramolecular materials and nanoscale devices as required in molecular nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and biomimetics.
Hagan Bayley, UK Session 2 Nanobiotechnology
Chemical Biology
http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/bayleygroup/index.html
Research
Bayley’s current research include: Engineering Membrane Channels and Pores, High-Throughput Screening with Membrane Proteins, Biomolecular Materials by Design, Caged Peptides and Proteins for Signal Transduction Research
Presentation:
Titel: Engineered protein pores as components of soft micromachines
One goal of synthetic biology is the manufacture of micromachines from simple parts. Such machines would be motile, able to generate, store and use energy, capable of sensing and carrying out computation, and able to take up substrates and convert them to products. We have found that aqueous droplets can be connected by lipid bilayers to form networks in a hydrocarbon environment. We propose that these networks can be used as the basis for the construction of "soft micromachines", in contrast to nano- and microdevices made from relatively rigid parts such as DNA and protein rods.
Proteins can be incorporated in to the bilayers of the networks, which we have termed "droplet interface bilayers". Therefore, we propose that membrane proteins will play a major role in the functioning of droplet-based micromachines. Towards this end, we have engineered the staphylococcal ?-hemolysin pore by genetic manipulation and chemical modification to endow it with a variety of properties. For example, we have been able to alter the pore size, and its ion selectivity and rectification properties. We have also altered the pore so that it can be regulated by chemicals, light and temperature. With these components, we have shown that droplet networks can behave like simple electrical circuits, be used to form tiny batteries and respond to light. With these subsystems in place, the manufacture of the proposed micromachines may be in the offing.
Günter Tovar, DE Session 2 Nanobiotechnology
Interfacial Engineering
www.uni-stuttgart.de/igvt/institut/mitarbeiter/gto.htm
Research:
Main topics in Research and Education are the characterization and functionalization of surfaces which are made of inorganic, organic-chemical and biological sources. Another working field is the investigation of interfacial-dominating processes in Membrane- and Biotechnology as well as the chemical, biochemical and molecular biological pre-research.
Presentation:
Titel: NANOCYTES-Technology – Biomimetic nanoparticles for applications ranging from life sciences to environmental technology
Communication of living systems is done by molecular recognition. This central principle of the living world is performed at the contact sites of different objects such as single macromolecules or highly complex supramolecular assemblies as which living cells may be described. Molecular recognition capabilities are evoked at artificial materials by the NANOCYTES-technology of the Fraunhofer IGB.
The biomimetic nanoparticles described here, possess such molecularly recognizing properties. For this purpose they carry molecularly defined binding sites at their surface. These binding sites are either composed from biologically derived macromolecules or fully synthetic receptors. Core-shell nanoparticles are particularly suited for this purpose, e.g. to immobilise a specific protein or a protein complex at their shell surface. Entirely synthetic molecularly recognising nanoparticles can also be prepared by chemical nanotechnology. A cooperative chemical reaction evokes the formation of specific molecular binding sites at the surface of copolymer nanoparticles. Such synthetic receptors may be employed e.g. as specific absorbers to remove micropollutants from the drinking water cycle or as functional unit of a biosensor. The talk will highlight the design and application of biomimetic nanoparticles based on the structural concepts described above.
Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH, WW/AT
Manufacturer of wheelchairs, rehabilitation and medical products.
http://www.ottobock.com
Research:
Otto Bock Healthcare is the flagship of the Otto Bock group of companies having the objective of restoring mobility to people with disabilities. An important division is Prosthetics and current research in the field is dealing with the improvement of prosthesis controllability in the sense of integrating it in the control loop of the natural movement.
Presentation:
Titel: Neurally controlled (thought-powered) arm prosthesis - case study.
Abstract:
In this talk we will report a fascinating result of the research and development under way of Otto Bock - the first neurally controlled arm prosthesis. Otto Bock presented the prototype in 2007 in Vienna and the first user of the intelligent arm outside USA is the young Christian Kandlbauer (Steiermark, Austria) who has lost both upper extremities due to a high-voltage accident. Now, after the rehabilitation process, he is working again at his former employer as a warehouse clerk. Behind this success lies a new surgery technique “Targeted Muscle Reinnervation” in which nerves previously in charge of moving the healthy arm are reinnervated in the disaffected muscles due to the amputation. The signals coming from the brain, interrupted after amputation, are rerouted to the correspondent prosthesis functions which are controlled intuitively and directly.
Jackie Y. Ying, SG
Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Research
PRESS RELEASE FROM NOV 2008:
Singapore 's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, has invented a unique user-friendly gel that can liquefy on demand, with the potential to revolutionise three-dimensional (3D) cell culture for medical research. As reported in Nature Nanotechnology (Y.S. Pek, A. C. A. Wan, A. Shekaran, L. Zhuo and J. Y. Ying, "A Thixotropic Nanocomposite Gel for Three-Dimensional Cell Culture"), IBN's novel gel media has the unique ability to liquefy when it is subjected to a moderate shear force and rapidly resolidifies into a gel within one minute upon removal of the force. This phenomenon of reverting between a gel and a liquid state is known as thixotropy.
Presentation:
Titel: Nanostructure Processing of Advanced Biomaterials and Biosystems
Abstract:
Nanostructured materials are of interest for a variety of applications. Through controlled synthesis in reverse microemulsions, my laboratory has achieved polymeric nanoparticles for the glucose-sensitive delivery of insulin. These stimuli-responsive materials allow for the appropriate insulin delivery to diabetic patients only when their blood sugar levels are high, without the need for external blood sugar monitoring. We have also developed apatite-polymer nanocomposite particles for the sustained, zero-order delivery of protein therapeutics. By adsorbing valuable bone morphogenetic proteins on carbonated apatite nanocrystals that are then encapsulated within biodegradable polymeric microparticles, we are able to achieve controlled release of this growth factor for the bone healing process over an extended period of time.
In addition, nanostructure processing has been employed in artificial implant and tissue engineering applications. For example, nanocomposite processing has been applied to obtain orthopedic implants and bone scaffolds with superior mechanical strength and bioactivity. By combining microfabrication and nanotechnology, we have also created various microstructures in kidney-specific dimensions and shapes. These structures can be used as bioartificial renal assist microdevices, and may serve as three-dimensional templates for tissue engineering.
Irving Shapiro, US Session 3 Artificial Organs
Orthopaedic Surgery
http://www.jefferson.edu/jcgs/phd/term
Research
Shapiro’s research is centered on creating bioactive surfaces for repair of fractured and infected bone. The aim of this work is to develop a new generation of smart implants that promote osteogenesis and prevent bacterial infection. This study relies heavily on the development of new chemical techniques to generate linkages between metals and bioactive molecules and uses imaging techniques such as micro-tomography light.
Presentation:
Titel: Molecular Engineering of an Orthopaedic Implant: From Bench to Bedside.
Abstract:
Patients who receive implant devices can experience biomaterial-associated infections which can lead to destruction of local tissues, patient disability and morbidity, and on occasion, death. Bacteria adhere to the implant surface and synthesize a complex glycocalyx that protects the organisms from immune surveillance and antibiotic treatment. To address this problem, we are developing a new, smart orthopaedic implant that besides providing secure fixation for fracture healing has a bactericidal surface that prevents potential infection or eradicates established infection. We use silane chemistry to covalent bond antibiotics to a metal surface via a membrane soluble linker. The efficacy of the attachment chemistry is evaluated in two ways. First, using microbiological assays, immunohistochemical techniques and cell biology techniques, we have assessed the distribution, stability and activity of the tethered antibiotic. Second, we have developed an animal model to determine the utility of the antibiotic-modified surface to prevent or mitigate bacterial infection of bone. Results of these ongoing studies indicate that the tethered antibiotic can inhibit bacterial adherence and biofilm formation. We predict that the this smart bactericidal surface may have the most profound long-term impact on general healthcare, and serve as a starting point for the development of the next generation of bioactive implants.
Norbert Dillier, CH Session 3 Artificial Organs
Experimental Audiology
http://www.uzh.ch/orl/lea/people/dillier/dillier.html
Research
Dillier’s research focuses on the functional properties of the auditory system, applied research to treat hearing impairment through the use of digital hearing instruments and microelectronic implantable auditory prostheses. In the laboratory of experimental audiology, his group is working on projects to better understand and improve the function of auditory prostheses such as cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implants as well as conventional and implantable hearing aids. The investigation of the mechanical properties of the outer and middle ear using laser Doppler vibrometry and finite element modeling aims to further the basic understanding of these structures and to develop tools for better middle ear prostheses. They are interested in aspects of music perception of patients with Cochlear Implants and are working on methods to improve the quality of music provided through these implantable auditory prostheses. They are also interested in simulating realistic acoustical environments for evaluation of algorithms and signal processing systems for the hard of hearing and the profoundly deaf.
Presentation:
Titel: Cochlear Implants - Challenges and Solutions
Abstract:
The remarkable improvements in speech comprehension capabilities of cochlear implant recipients over the last 25 years can be attributed to a number of influencing factors. Cochlear implant systems attempt to selectively stimulate small groups of nerve fibers with minimal channel interactions. To achieve this goal, adequate and suitable signal processing strategies had to be developed and appropriate mapping of signal parameters to patient-specific psycho-electrical stimulation conditions has to be accomplished in order to provide loudness, pitch and timbre percepts which mimic those of normal hearing subjects.
Today’s CI coding strategies divide the input signal into a number of logarithmically spaced frequency bands and generate the stimulus signals based on the signal envelopes in these frequency bands. The fine temporal structure which is generated in addition to the envelope fluctuations when a signal is passed through a set of band pass filters is ignored. This does not seem to be a major problem for the discrimination of most speech sounds. Many implanted subjects reach excellent performance levels when tested with standard open set speech tests. However, most subjects still experience difficulties in acoustically challenging situations such as in reverberant rooms or in the presence of environmental noise or competing talkers and especially when it comes to the appreciation of music. The insufficient frequency resolution of a cochlear implant and the lack of preservation of phase information in stimulation patterns are some of the reasons for the poor sound quality perception and weak performance in music feature discrimination and identification tasks of CI recipients. Current research is seeking new solutions for these challenges.
Klaus Affeld, DE Session 3 Artificial Organs
Biofluidmechanik Kardiovaskuläre Chirurgie
http://www.charite.de/biofluidmechanik/gb/mitarbeiter/mitarbeiter_GB_0.html
Research
Affeld’s latest research focuses on local glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor delivery from the pump surface attenuates platelet adhesion in continuous flow ventricular assist devices. Artif Organs. 2008 Oct;32(10):792-9. PMID: 18959668 [PubMed - in process]
Presentation:
Titel: Blood Flow and Platelet Deposition
Abstract:
Many implants in the cardiovascular system require the contact of an artificial material with the blood. Since all the known materials are inferior to the endothelial lining of the cardiovascular system, clotting at or in the vicinity of the implant is observed if special precautions are not taken. These precautions can be a reduction in the clotting potential of the blood, a preparation of the implant with anticoagulants, an intense blood flow at the implant or a combination of these three measures. These measures define the resulting thrombogenicity of the device. Up to now the knowledge of the thrombogenicity of such a device is based on experience rather than on design.
Thrombogenicity itself was first observed in the human body at the post mortem stage. More than 150 years ago, Rudolf Virchow, a German physician and pathologist observed the interdependence of various parameters leading to a thrombus. He stated that there is a correlation between three entities which determines blood clotting, i.e. thrombus formation. These entities are:
• properties of blood,
• properties of material in contact with blood, and the
• properties of blood flow
This interdependence of blood, material and flow became known as Virchow’s triad and has been widely accepted. However, it has resisted a complete quantification. The clotting process in resting blood has been studied in great detail and is well understood today. Also the interaction of blood and blood-contact-material has been thoroughly investigated and a wide variety of experimental data has been accumulated. However, the influence of the third element in the triad mentioned above - the flow - is less well understood. Animal experiments and clinical experience show that a vessel with a fast blood flow is more likely to remain patent than one with slow and sometimes stagnant flow. There are two biochemically different systems acting together to form a large thrombus. These are blood coagulation and platelet deposition. The massive thrombus, which is built up by a multitude of molecules or cells, develops from an initially small thrombus. This process requires a chemical chain reaction which depends on production and concentration of reactive substances. These substances are transported, either by diffusion or convection or by a combination of both - by convective diffusion. The basic assumption is that the convective diffusion of thrombo-active substances is the central physical mechanism of thrombus formation. It is further assumed that the shear flow is responsible for the convective transport near a wall. Hence, the shear rate plays a central role. In two different shear flow experiments the deposition of platelets is observed and a mathematical model of platelet deposition is proposed which elucidates the role of flow in this process.
Prof. Eberhart Zrenner, DE Session 3 Artificial Organs
Retina Implants
http://www.retina-implant.de/en/doctors/
Research
Since 1996 the research consortium “Subretinale Microphotodiodes” has been developing a so-called subretinal implant that is designed to give patients who became blind as a result of degenerative retinal diseases a new ability to see.
Presentation:
Titel: Subretinal Microelectrode Arrays Allow Blind Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients to Recognize Letters and Combine them to Words
Abstract:
Methods: Subretinal implants consisted of two arrays: 4 x 4 electrodes (100 x 100 μm), spaced 280 μm, controlled retroauricularly via a subdermal line for direct stimulation (“DS array”) and a light sensitive "chip" (3 x 3 x 0,1 mm) with 1500 photodiodes, amplifiers and electrodes (50 x 50 μm).
Results: On the DS array patterns consisting of 4 x 4 dots correspond to letters of approximately 5 cm diameter presented at 60 cm distance. Pat. 1 correctly (20/24) recognized the direction of the letter “U”, presented with the opening in four different directions in a 4 alternative forced choice (4AFC) mode. Pat. 2 correctly (12/12) differentiated letters (e.g. C, O, I, L, Z, V) within few seconds, presented via DS electrodes. With the light sensitive subretinal chip, he also correctly (22/24) differentiated without head movements letters (e.g. L, I, T, Z; 8,5 cm high, 1.7 cm line width) steadily presented on a screen at 62 cm distance with a red light. Pat. 3 recognized (15/20 correct, 4AFC) the direction of lines or stripe patterns with the chip, as did Pat. 1 (11/14, 2AFC) and Pat. 2 (11/12 4AFC) up to 0.35 cycles/deg.
Conclusions: Active subretinal multielectrode implants can produce retinotopically correct patterns that allow for the first time recognition of individual letters (8 cm high, viewed in appr. 62 cm distance) clearly ing the feasibility of light sensitive subretinal multi-electrode devices for restoration of useful visual percepts in blind patients. support
Yaakov Benenson, US Session 4 Biological microdevices
Molecular Automata, Computer Science & Applied Mathematics http://sysbio.harvard.edu/csb/research/benenson.html
Research
Benenson’s research focuses on automata that function on the level of individual cells. They comprise sensor, computation and actuation molecular modules. They develop these modules in parallel and integrate them into fully functional automata. They use human tissue culture as a testing ground for our systems; in the same time extensive preliminary studies are done in vitro
Presentation:
Titel: Toward biological computations in mammalian cells
Live cells process information using purely digital systems, such as the genetic code, and analog reaction networks that at times behave as digital circuits, such as signal transduction. We are developing approaches to build designer reaction networks in a systematic fashion in order to control and modify cellular behavior in new ways. These networks are none other than biological “computers” that produce molecular outputs based on programmed processing of biomolecular inputs. As a first step we have constructed networks that control gene expression based on logic combinations of specified biomolecular inputs, including mRNAs, microRNAs and transcription factors. Our approach uses RNA interference as a logic processor and a variety of sensor "devices" to read out individual inputs.
Joanne Macdonald, US Session 4 Biological microdevices
Molecular Engineering and Biocomputing, Cybernetics, Molecular Diagnostics & Engineering, Molecular Virology
http://www.columbiamedicine2.org/CPET/people/joanne.html
Research
MacDonald’s research interests is on molecular computation: Logic gate circuits and game-playing automata. MAYA-II was published 07 October 2006. Maya-II is a second-generation molecular automaton (a molecular array of YES and ANDNOT gates) that plays tic-tac-toe. Molecular Diagnostics: Rapid computational arrays for multiplex SNP detection (including A-i mutations), viral lineage attribution (including West Nile virus and Avian Influenza virus), and small molecule discrimination (including Vasopressin). Molecular Engineering: Artificial enzymes for substance abuse; Vasopressin partial agonists to treat vasodilatory shock. Molecular Virology: West Nile virus replication; Edge Hill virus phylogeny
Presentation:
Titel: Molecular automatons
Abstract:
The largest autonomous molecular computing device, MAYA-II, integrates more than 100 deoxyribozyme-based logic gates to play tic-tac-toe interactively against a human opponent. We are now applying elements of MAYA-II for biodetection through the construction of SNAPS (smart nucleic acid pattern sensors). SNAPS detect unique oligonucleotide signatures and display results visually with alphanumerical characters. The devices use a computational approach for pattern identification that provides a concise readout and permits exponential increases in sample numbers.
Norbert Hampp, DE Session 4 Biological microdevices
Bacteriorhodopsin & Biosensors
http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb15/ag-hampp/arbeitsgruppe/Leiter
Research
Hampp’s research focuses on chemical modification and gene technological mutation bacteriorhodopsins are obtained which have enhanced properties for a variety of applications. Examples are optical information capture and storage and security applications.
Presentation:
Titel: Bacteriorhodopsin and its Technical Applications
Abstract:
Bacteriorhodopsin is a model protein in nanobiotechnology. Its unusual physicochemical properties combined with its attractive photophysical function make it a first choice in exploring technical applications of functional biomolecules. Several applications of bacteriorhodopsin have been developed by quite a number of groups. However, very few have reached the integration level required for a product. An overview on the potential applications of bacteriorhodopsin will be presented and their status be reported.
K. Warwick, UK Keynote Lecture 2
Cybernetics artificial intelligence, control, robotics and biomedical engineering
Research
Kevin’s research involves robotics and he is responsible (with Jim Wyatt) for Cybot, a robot exported around the world as part of a magazine “Real Robots” – this has resulted in royalties totalling over £1M for Reading University. Robots designed and constructed by Kevin’s group (Ian Kelly, Ben Hutt) are on permanent interactive display in the Science Museums in London, Birmingham and Linz.
Kevin is currently working closely with Dr Daniela Cerqui, a social and cultural anthropologist to address the main social, ethical, philosophical and anthropological issues related to his research into robotics and cyborgs.
Presentation/Keynote:
In this presentation a look is taken at how the use of implant and electrode technology can be employed to create biological brains for robots, to enable human enhancement and to diminish the effects of certain neural illnesses. In all cases the end result is to increase the range of abilities of the recipients. An indication is given of a number of areas in which such technology has already had a profound effect, a key element being the need for a clear interface linking a biological brain directly with computer technology. The emphasis is clearly placed on practical scientific studies that have been and are being undertaken and reported on. The area of focus is notably the use of electrode technology, where a connection is made directly with the cerebral cortex and/or nervous system. The presentation will consider the future in which robots have biological, or part-biological, brains and in which neural implants link the human nervous system bi-directionally with technology and the internet.
Daniela Cerqui, CH Ethical Perspective Talk
social and cultural anthropology
http://wwwpeople.unil.ch/daniela.cerquiducret/
Research
Cerqui currently carries out research in the Department of Cybernetics of the University of Reading, where Kevin Warwick was , in 2002, the first human with a chip implanted in his body and directly linked to his nervous system. She spent the last two years there (since June 2004).
Presentation:
Titel: Merging with machines. An anthropological approach
Abstract:
Ethical issues related to technology are usually assessed in terms of impact, i.e. what happens once technology doesexist. Anthropologists are more interested in the values that are embedded in technology, i.e. what happens while technology is being thought and built.
My talk will be focused on the researches carried out by Kevin Warwick, the first human being with a chip implanted for non therapeutic purposes,at the University of Reading, where I recently spent two years trying to understand what is (descriptive aspect) and what should be (normative aspect) a human being according to the engineers involved in these cyborg projects. I will identify several issues and show that, contrary to what may be thought, what is being promoted there is coherent with some of the main values commonly shared in our society.
