Home > Program > Workshops

Title:

Meet the Editors

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Matthias Reumann, PhD (IBM )

Cristian A. Linte, PhD (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine)

Room: Salon A
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This is an interactive session following the Workshop on technical Writing and Manuscript Preparation where the audience will have a chance to meet the editors of some of the IEEE EMBS journals in person and get their questions answered with regards to their journal of interest or journal publications in general. Each editor will be available to discuss specific to each journal and give you tips on do's and don'ts aimed at helping you improve your technical writing and getting your work published.

Title:

Virtual Reality and Robotics in Neurorehabilitation

8:15 am - 12:40 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Emily Keshner, PT, EdD (Temple University)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Sergei Adamovich, PhD - New Jersey Institute of Technology
2. Judith Deutsch, PT, PhD - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
3. Susan Fasoli, ScD, OTR/L - Partners Healthcare
4. Gerard Fluet, DPT - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
5. Emily Keshner, PT, EdD - Temple University
6. Hermano Igo Krebs, PhD - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
7. Barbara Ladenheim, PhD - Blythedale Children's Hospital
8. Joelle Mast, PhD, MD - Blythedale Children's Hospital
9. Alma Merians, PT, PhD - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
10. William Zev Rymer, MD, PhD - Northwestern University
11. Steven L. Wolf, PT, FAPTA, FAHA, PhD - Emory University School of Medicine

Abstract

This course aims to introduce participants to the use and mechanisms of action of virtual reality and robotics within the field of neurorehabilitation. The workshop will introduce participants to a range of robotic systems that utilize virtual reality from the clinical and engineering perspectives. The aim of this workshop is to engage the clinician and therapist in clinical reasoning regarding the best use of rehabilitation systems currently available for treatment of neurological disorders and to engage the engineer in the process of understanding the health care workers' perspective on the use of these systems in an attempt to bridge the gap between research and clinical application. Finally, we will look towards potential future applications of rehabilitation systems.

Title:

Neurotechnology

8:00 am - 12:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Seward Rutkove, MD (Harvard Medical School)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Peter Bergethon, MD - Boston University
2. Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School
3. Seward Rutkove, MD - Harvard Medical School
4. Ted Teng MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School

Abstract

Neurotechnology represents a broad field spanning both diagnostics and therapeutics as applied to the entire nervous system, from brain and spinal cord to peripheral nerve and muscle. Over the past decade major advances in technologies have led to improved health of individuals with a variety of neurological disorders, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injury. Rather than providing an overview of those past successes, this workshop will survey the many areas of neurological care still in need of innovation, while highlighting a few ongoing neurotechnological efforts. Each talk will discuss unmet needs, major limitations to current technologies, and then specifically use their work as an example of addressing unmet needs.

Title:

Global Health

8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Anna Young, MD, PhD (Innovations in International Health @ MIT)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Jose Gomez-Marquez - Innovations in International Health @ MIT
2. Kristian Olson, MD, MPH, DTM&H - Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative
3. Technology
4. Anna Young, MD, PhD - Innovations in International Health @ MIT

Abstract

Innovations in International Health (IIH) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Global Health Initiatve (GHI) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) will share their approach, Global Health Technology 2.0, to developing medical technologies for low and middle income countries (LMIC). We define Global Health Technology 2.0 as technology standing as an
independent determinant of global health rather than an aspect of policy that gets folded in as systems mature. In our work towards this new model of technologies in health, we outline a new way of doing research and development. As global health development assistance has tripled in the last decade, policymakers are recognizing the need for accessible health technologies aimed at low and middle income countries (LMICs). Developing these technologies is not simple. It requires a delicate departure from top-down, sophisticated engineering towards user-enabled designs that are elegant, simple, and field trialed and tailored. However, the stakes are higher - technologies must succeed with a unique set of design challenges and address a higher burden of global illness These technologies must be aligned with end-user needs which requires codevelopment with innovators in LMICs. Multiple iterations with end-user feedback are needed for ultimate translation to practical use. This course will explore Global Health Technology 2.0 through an opening presentation outlining the approach, followed by an interactive demo and prototyping activity, and closing remarks on how to integrate this approach in the participants' respective institutions.

Title:

Cerebral Palsy Neurorehabilitation: From Impairment to Participation

8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Deborah Gaebler-Spira, MD (Northwestern University)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Sergei Adamovich, PhD - New Jersey Institute of Technology
2. Alycia Berg, MS, CCC-SLP - Children's Hospital Boston
3. Diane Damiano, PhD, PT - National Institutes of Health
4. Deborah Gaebler-Spira, MD - Northwestern University
5. Eugene Goldfield, PhD - Harvard Medical School
6. Brian Snyder, MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School
7. Leia Stirling, PhD - Wyss Institute
8. Rebecca Therriault, M.S., CCC-SLP - Children's Hospital Boston
9. Li-Qun Zhang, PhD - Northwestern University

Abstract

8:00 - 12:00 (morning session)
14:30 - 18:00 (afternoon session)

Participants will be introduced to robotic rehabilitation methods for cerebral palsy (CP), both as a treatment and as an outcome evaluation tool. The workshop will first provide a basic understanding of Cerebral Palsy (CP) impairment and engineering terminology, followed by a presentation of technologies that are currently being developed, as well as those available in the market. For devices to have a greater opportunity of success for the patient, it is important for clinicians, researchers, and engineers to be involved in the development of new technologies. The course aims to demystify the boundary between engineers and clinicians in order to encourage collaboration for the mutual benefit of children and families.

Title:

Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Felipe Fegni, MD, PhD (Harvard Medical School)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Mar Cortes, MD - Burke Medical Research Institute
2. Dylan Edwards, PhD - Burke Medical Research Institute
3. Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH - Harvard Medical School
4. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School

Abstract

This course is an introduction to Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation techniques. It will cover the history and basic mechanisms of TMS/tDCS/tACS, and how they relate to research directions and clinical practice. This course will also have a demonstration of the techniques and hands-on opportunities for the students. The course is relevant to those clinicians and/or researchers in need of acquiring basic information regarding Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS)for their practice. The overall purpose of the course is to improve your understanding of the techniques of non-invasive brain stimulation, such as TMS, tDCS and tACS. Besides, we will provide information relating to the history and basic mechanisms of these techniques, as well as information about safety guidelines and clinical applications. Finally, we will perform hands-on demonstrations of these techniques.

Title:

Wyss Institute Presentation

3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Jim Niemi (Wyss Institute)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Ayis Antoniou, PhD, MBA - Wyss Institute
2. Donald E. Ingber, MD, PhD - Wyss Institute
3. Jim Niemi - Wyss Institute
4. David Paydarfar, MD - UMass Medical School
5. Michael Super, PhD; Wyss Institute
6. Mary Tolikas, PhD, MBA - Wyss Institute
7. Diana Young, PhD; Wyss Institute

Abstract

This session will present and discuss the Wyss Institute, a new and exciting model for technology translation. The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering uses Nature's design texprinciples to develop bioinspired materials and devices that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Working as an alliance among Harvard's Schools of Medicine,Engineering, and Arts & Sciences, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Boston University, the Institute crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers to engage in high-risk research that leads to transformative technological breakthroughs. By emulating Nature's principles for self-organizing and self-regulating, Wyss researchers are developing innovative new engineering solutions for healthcare, energy,
architecture, robotics, and manufacturing. These technologies are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and new start-ups.

Title:

Wyss Award

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Jim Niemi (Wyss Institute )

Mary Tolkias, PhD, MBA (Wyss Institute)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

The session will include presentations by the three finalists of the IEEE EMBS - Wyss Institute Award for Translational Research. A panel of experts will judge the presentations and choose three of them for awards to recognize the top three finalists. The finalists (individuals or teams) will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively and recognition of their achievement. The award will recognize translational engineering projects with the potential for making a transformative impact on healthcare safety, quality, effectiveness, accessibility and affordability.

Title:

An Open and Extensible Wearable Research Platform

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

(Shimmer Research)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Kieran Daly - Shimmer Research
2. Benjamin Kuris - Shimmer Research
3. Steve Ayer - Shimmer Research
4. Bor-rong Chen, PhD - Biosensics

Abstract

This workshop will be of interest to biomedical researchers and students interested in wearable sensors, biomechanics, and activity classification. Shimmer is a research platform used to support clinical and academic understanding in over 50 countries. Designed explicitly as a wearable technology, Shimmer is a small wireless sensor platform that can record (micro SD) and transmit (Bluetooth/802.15.4) physiological, kinematic and ambient data in real-time. The platform is extremely extensible and enables researchers as well as industry to be at the leading edge of sensing technology. The workshop will introduce the platform and its capabilities as well as some typical applications. We will discuss the various ways to work with the platform as well as the tools available from a developer standpoint. A live demonstration of building and customizing an application will be given. A Shimmer partner - Biosensics LLC- will also present and discuss their transition from research into commercialization based on a unique activity classification solution (PAMSys) developed on the shimmer platform. PAMSys (Physical Activity Monitoring System) provides a complete and comprehensive map of individuals' physical activity including detailed posture classification (sitting, standing, walking, lying).

Contact us: info@shimmer-research.com

Title:

Wearable Technologies: Simplified Collection and Analysis of sEMG and Physiological Signals

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

(Delsys Inc.)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Nick Kundu, MS - Delsys Inc.
2. Gianluca Deluca, MS - Delsys Inc.
3. Paola Contessa, PhD - Boston University

Abstract

This workshop will be of interest to biomedical researchers and students interested in wearable sensors, signal processing, biosignals, biomechanics, and activity monitoring. Newly developed wireless data acquisition systems for EMG and other physiological signals will be used to unobtrusively capture information about the human body, in real time, and in real world situations. Portable, wireless systems allow unencumbered monitoring of natural motion and activities. Through an integrated system of data collection, data viewing, and scriptable processing routines, this corpus of information may be analyzed to interpret the relationships among these data. We will demonstrate recently-developed tools that bring these insights to the forefront, while facilitating experiment set-up, data management, and processing. A live demonstration of data collection tools will be given, showing how real-time data display and processing can be used to optimize the quality of sEMG data collection. Novel technology for suppressing the movement artifact and reducing cross-talk detected during dynamic activities will be demonstrated. Concurrent signals, such as EKG, inertial (movement), GPS (location), all collected through an integrated and synchronized data collection system, will be analyzed and related to the muscle activity monitored by the sEMG signals. Flexible data analysis tools will be used to view and process physiological data, demonstrating the ease with which research questions can be explored, and trends and nuances related to physiological states can be evaluated.

For additional information, please contact us at Delsys@delsys.com

Title:

Winning Projects in a National Competition for Innovation in Primary-Care Technology

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Ron Newbower, PhD (Center for the Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Each year $400,000 in prizes are awarded by CIMIT for innovations in technology for potential benefit in transforming primary care. This unique competition is open to graduate and undergraduate engineering students nationwide. This session will feature presentations from winners from the past three years, each representing a collaborative team which attacked a significant clinical need in a novel and potentially transformative fashion, reaching for better outcomes and lower cost at the frontlines of healthcare -- the domain of primary care clinicians. The top prize in this annual process is $150,000 -- not only to recognize the students' achievement, but to foster further progress towards implementation and even commercialization. The presenters will tell their stories of success, both to illustrate the process of multi-disciplinary collaborative innovation, and to tell their stories of how they were attracted by this prize to devote efforts to this field.

Title:

1st IEEE-EMBS Unconference on Wearable and Ubiquitous Technology for Health & Wellness

8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Emil Jovanov, PhD (The University of Alabama in Huntsville )

Misha Pavel, PhD (National Science Foundation )

Mary Rodgers, PT, PhD (University of Maryland )

Kaliya Hamlin (meeting designer) (Unconference.net )

Shyamal Patel (demo competition coordinator) (Northeastern University)

Room:
Floor 3, Westin

Registration required

Abstract

The purpose of the meeting is to bring together all those who care about addressing key challenges in the translation of technology from the lab to the field around wearable and ubiquitous technology for health and wellness. The unconference format allows attendees to create the agenda/schedule for the day live the day of the event. The format facilitates a focus on discussing emerging developments and new ideas. The event includes a session in which attendees will demonstrate prototypes of wearable technology leading to a competition that will acknowledge the most innovative and highest potential impact demonstrations. The organizers will will compile contributions collected during the meeting in a white paper that will be published after the meeting.

For more information, see the Unconference section of the EMBS website here.

Title:

Opening Remarks and IEEE EMBS Award Ceremony

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Join us for the conference opening ceremony.

Title:

Student Paper Competition Session

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Finalists of the Student Paper Competition present their papers in three special sessions. First, second and third place winners will be selected and receive monetary awards. The award ceremony will take place during the session starting at 1:00 pm on Friday.

More information here.

Title:

Award Recognition Reception

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Staffordshire
Floor 3, Westin

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This is an opportunity to network with the IEEE EMBS Award Recipients.

Title:

Student Paper Competition Session

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Finalists of the Student Paper Competition present their papers in three special sessions. First, second and third place winners will be selected and receive monetary awards. The award ceremony will take place during the session starting at 1:00 pm on Friday.

More information here.

Title:

Student Paper Competition Session

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Finalists of the Student Paper Competition present their papers in three special sessions. First, second and third place winners will be selected and receive monetary awards. The award ceremony will take place during the session starting at 1:00 pm on Friday.

More information here.

Title:

Symposium on BME Education

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Richard Baird, PhD (National Institutes of Health )

Bin He, PhD (University of Minnesota )

Melur Ramasubramanian, PhD (National Science Foundation)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Biomedical engineering (or bioengineering) is an emerging field to encompass intersection between engineering and biomedicine. It has been anticipated that we will witness a 72% increase in the workforce by 2018 in the U.S. alone. Many biomedical engineering departments and programs have been established in the past decade, reflecting the increased demand in the scientific field and job market. How to optimally educate and train the next generation of leaders in this important field represents a grand challenge to biomedical engineering and the bioengineering community. This symposium is aimed at bringing together all stakeholders, including academic, government and industrial sectors, for public discussions. Senior academic leaders including department chairs, NSF/NIH training program directors, and industrial representatives will be invited to discuss challenges and best practices on biomedical engineering education and training. Topics to be discussed include: biomedical engineering as a discipline or interdisciplinary field, core courses for biomedical engineering, broad based training vs. focused track based training, international biomedical engineering curriculum, etc. Interactive communications between invited speakers and audience are also anticipated.

Title:

Lunch with Leaders

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Iris Yan (The Pennsylvania State University, EMBS Student Rep)

Room: Staffordshire
Floor 3, Westin

Registration required (SOLD OUT)

Abstract

All EMBS students are invited to a free lunch where they choose to sit with one of many leaders in biomedical engineering. Approximately ten students per table and a leader engage in informal conversation over a delicious lunch. This a rare and invaluable opportunity for you as a student to talk to a leader in biomedical engineering, get some advice and network in your field.

Title:

Student Welcome Reception

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Essex Ballroom
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

This year's EMBS conference will host two receptions. The Student Welcome Reception will be held at the Westin and the General Conference Attendee reception will be held at the Marriott. Students, make sure you attend this exciting networking opportunity. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served.

Title:

Welcome Reception for General Conference Attendees

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Grand Ballroom
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This year's EMBS conference will host two receptions. The Student Welcome Reception will be held at the Westin and the General Conference Attendee reception will be held at the Marriott. Make sure you attend the appropriate welcome reception. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served.

Title:

Careers in Biomedical Engineering and Health Informatics (Women in Engineering Program)

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Semahat Demir, PhD (National Science Foundation )

Zeynep Erim, PhD (National Institutes of Health)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

Abstract

A valuable session for anyone interested in learning more about Biomedical Engineering and Health Informatics as a career choice for women. Prominent women within the domains of Biomedical Engineering and Health Informatics will present on issues such as career/family balance, experiences with and strategies to eliminate glass ceilings together with working in a profession perceived to be male dominated. Latest information will be provided on the representation of women within these professions. Utilize the fantastic networking opportunity that will conclude this session to build and establish new professional networks with other women interested in your fields of expertise. Bring your contact details and be ready to make new contacts that are relevant for you!

Title:

Technical Writing and Manuscript Preparation (Special Session for Students)

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Cristian A. Linte, PhD (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine )

Matthias Reumann, PhD\ (IBM )

Iris Yan (The Pennsylvania State University)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This session's audience targets student and GOLD members primarily. The whole writing process from starting to write to publication will be covered in this session. The talks will give brief overviews of the structure and important points that make an excellent scientific article, writing methods to improve writing skills will be addressed and the final talk will cover the review and editorial process. At the end of the talk there will be enough time for a longer discussion and direct questions.

Title:

Lunch with Leaders

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Iris Yan (The Pennsylvania State University, EMBS Student Rep)

Room: Staffordshire
Floor 3, Westin

Registration required (SOLD OUT)

Abstract

All EMBS students are invited to a free lunch where they choose to sit with one of many leaders in biomedical engineering. Approximately ten students per table and a leader engage in informal conversation over a delicious lunch. This a rare and invaluable opportunity for you as a student to talk to a leader in biomedical engineering, get some advice and network in your field.

Title:

Effective Presentation Design and Delivery (Special Session for Students)

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Cristian A. Linte, PhD (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

For many of us oral presentations can be the prime means for communicating our ideas and our research, not only to our peers, but also to our employers and to potential customers. As students, you are no exception - the prospect of an oral presentation can be daunting, the pressure is on to make a good impression with your research. That we are scientists presenting sometimes very complicated scientific ideas and results need not necessarily be a recipe for a sleep inducing "death by PowerPoint" presentation, rather there are simple ways in which we can all try and make our presentations effective and captivating. This session aims to give you some all-round pointers on the "dos" and "don'ts" of preparing and delivering an effective presentation that best conveys your ideas smoothly, understandably and, most important, succinctly.

Title:

Lunch with Leaders

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Iris Yan (The Pennsylvania State University, EMBS Student Rep)

Room: Staffordshire
Floor 3, Westin

Registration required (SOLD OUT)

Abstract

All EMBS students are invited to a free lunch where they choose to sit with one of many leaders in biomedical engineering. Approximately ten students per table and a leader engage in informal conversation over a delicious lunch. This a rare and invaluable opportunity for you as a student to talk to a leader in biomedical engineering, get some advice and network in your field.

Title:

GOLD & Student Networking Reception

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Matthias Reumann, PhD (IBM )

Iris Yan (The Pennsylvania State University )

Laura J. Wolf (IEEE EMBS)

Room: Essex Ballroom
Floor 3, Westin

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

In its effort to increase the value of IEEE and EMBS membership for young engineers, the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society hosts its sixth IEEE EMBS-GOLD & Student Networking Reception at its 33rd Annual International Conference in Boston, USA. The Graduates Of the Last Decade (GOLD) program is an IEEE entity working at providing benefits for young IEEE members after their 'Student Member' status has expired. If you are an IEEE Member who graduated with your first professional degree within the last ten years, including all graduate students, you are automatically part of IEEE GOLD! Around the world, there are over 47,000 GOLD members and 100 GOLD Affinity Groups. The continuing goal of GOLD is to find out what students need from their Society at this particular stage of their careers and how their Society can in turn offer additional value of membership. If you are indeed GOLD, you are cordially invited to network with your peers, some of whom are working in industry, at the Reception's informal and fun environment.

Title:

Alternative Careers in BME (Special Session for Students)

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Ming Jack Po (Columbia University)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

About 80% of Masters and PhD students end up in non-faculty positions. If you haven't started exploring your options yet, rest assured there is a broad range of career opportunities for science PhDs beyond the ivory tower. If you are thinking of alternative careers and have an interest in business and solving problems, then come join us for this informative and practical event. We've gathered four PhDs who have established careers outside of academia to speak on how they made the transition from academic research or medicine and provide real-world examples of the type of work they now do.

Title:

Toward a Global Neuroinformatics Infrastructure

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Pontus Holm, PhD (International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Jan Bjaalie, PhD - University of Oslo
2. David van Essen, PhD - Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis Sean Hill, PhD - International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Mitsuo Kawato, PhD - ATR, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Abstract

Large-scale data-intensive integrative neuroscience projects are paving the wayfor a next generation international neuroinformatics infrastructure. Large-scale data integration is redefining neuroscience and creating new domains such as digital brain atlasing, connectomics, brain modeling and more. Some of the issues addressed are data federation, ontologies, spatial references, common data models, analysis, visualization and simulation techniques.This workshop will include presentations from the leaders of large neuroscience infrastructureprojects from around the world.Such integrative infrastructures will enable new insights about the structure and function of the brain in health and disease.

Title:

From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Saturday, Jul 30 2011

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Dr. Venter will be discussing the science that led from the first genome to the first synthetic life.

Biography

. Craig Venter, Ph.D., is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his numerous invaluable contributions to genomic research. He is Founder, Chairman, and President of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit, research organization with approximately 400 scientists and staff dedicated to human, microbial, plant, synthetic and environmental genomic research, and the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics.



Dr. Venter is also Founder and CEO of Synthetic Genomics Inc., a privately held company dedicated to commercializing genomic-driven solutions to address global needs such as new sources of energy and next generation vaccines.



Dr. Venter began his formal education after a tour of duty as a Navy Corpsman in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. After earning both a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of California at San Diego, he was appointed professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. In 1984, he moved to the National Institutes of Health campus where he developed Expressed Sequence Tags or ESTs, a revolutionary new strategy for rapid gene discovery. In 1992 Dr. Venter founded The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR, now part of JCVI), a not-for-profit research institute, where in 1995 he and his team decoded the genome of the first free-living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, using his new whole genome shotgun technique.



In 1998, Dr. Venter founded Celera Genomics to sequence the human genome using new tools and techniques he and his team developed. This research culminated with the February 2001 publication of the human genome in the journal, Science. He and his team at Celera also sequenced the fruit fly, mouse and rat genomes.



Dr. Venter and his team at the Venter Institute continue to blaze new trails in genomics. He and his team have sequenced and analyzed hundreds of genomes, and have published numerous important papers covering such areas as environmental genomics, the first complete diploid human genome, and the groundbreaking advance in creating the first self replicating bacterial cell constructed entirely with synthetic DNA.



Dr. Venter, one of the most frequently cited scientists, is the author of more than 250 research articles. He is also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, public honors, and scientific awards, including the 2008 United States National Medal of Science, the 2002 Gairdner Foundation International Award and the 2001 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize. Dr. Venter is a member of numerous prestigious scientific organizations including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Society for Microbiology.

Title:

The Impact of Information Technology on Health Care Delivery

12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Health care providers are facing unprecedented pressures to reduce the cost of care and improve the quality and safety of care. These pressures are expected to lead to significant changes in the structure of the industry and the means used to reimburse care providers. Information technology (IT) is seen as a critical contributor to efforts to transform health care delivery. Leveraging a foundation of broadly adopted electronic health records, IT will have four core impacts:

• Enabling and improving health care processes
• Delivering knowledge to care providers
• Engaging patients
• Enabling sophisticated analyses of treatment effectiveness and efficiency

Biography

John Glaser, PhD, is Chief Executive Officer, Health Services Business. Previously he was Vice-President and Chief Information Officer, Partners HealthCare. Dr. Glaser was the founding Chairman of College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and is past President of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). He was a Senior Advisor to the Federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

He is a fellow of HIMSS, CHIME and the American College of Medical Informatics. CHIME has established a scholarship in Dr. Glaser's name. He was elected to CIO Magazine's CIO Hall of Fame.

He holds a Ph.D. in Healthcare Information Systems from the University of Minnesota

Title:

Engineering Drug Dosing in Dynamic Biological Systems

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Many human biophysical systems have complex physiological responses when regulated by pharmaceutical agents. Predicting such responses is difficult if there are long delay times between receiving a dose of a drug and seeing an effect, if the system exhibits nonlinear responses, or if subsystems respond at very different time scales. We show how computer-based, nonlinear model predictive control can be used to specify an adaptive dosing protocol to produce a desired response. The controller uses repeated measurements of the patient's physiological state, together with statistical parameter estimation methods, to adapt to changes in the patient's condition. In addition to helping predict appropriate doses, these estimated parameters may be of interest to physicians, as they reflect important aspects of the patient's condition that are normally difficult to measure directly.

We use human erythropoiesis as an example biophysical system. It is a dynamic, complex, multi-step process where hemoglobin levels (Hb) are regulated with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). Fourier analysis reveals that for some patients, the time series of their Hb levels is wildly variable and even oscillatory. Much of this variability can be explained by changes in patient condition and physicians' best-effort actions to counteract these changes with next-dose recommendations based on an observational history shorter than one red blood cell (RBC) lifetime. Via computer simulation, using a partial differential equation-based model describing time-dependent RBC aging as well as feedback effects for ESAs, we explore the possibility of using computer-generated dosing protocols to create a smoother response that more effectively maintains Hb levels.

Medical, engineering, commercial, and psychological challenges must be overcome before such controllers can be widely used, but we believe that such techniques promise better regulation of many human biophysical systems. The creation of an adequate, but still mathematically and computationally tractable, model of the biological system can be difficult and time consuming, but often yields its own biological insights. Physicians are naturally and justifiably apprehensive about trusting computers to recommend pharmaceutical doses. However, when the biological system is sufficiently complex, computer-based control systems may offer significant improvements in control as compared to the unaided practitioner.

A handout for the talk is attached here.

Biography

As Amgen's Vice President of Research & Development Informatics, Dave works closely with the head of R&D and the CIO to provide operational and strategic leadership in support of Amgen's worldwide initiatives in drug discovery and development. Dave leads teams of scientific and technical professionals in Translational Sciences, Discovery Sciences, Systems Informatics, Strategy & Operations, Knowledge Management, and Development. The Research & Development Informatics staff numbers over 250 and serves Amgen and its patients from four global sites. Dave's responsibilities include managing a large client-funded budget, collaborating with clients to identify and improve processes, developing and implementing enterprise architecture standards, making recommendations on new systems, and managing the implementation of business plans.

Prior to joining Amgen Inc., Dave was CIO and Vice President of Informatics and Information Technology at Signature Bioscience in San Francisco, CA. He developed and led teams to enhance corporate and scientific computing facilities, built a drug discovery infrastructure, developed corporate strategy, and began software development for cellular instruments. Dave has also held positions with Affymetrix, Inc. and Sterling Winthrop, Inc. with increasing responsibility in Information Systems management and Informatics.

Dave holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California Berkeley. Throughout his more than twenty-five year career, Dave has been awarded over 15 patents in the field of database design and data visualizing techniques and has a similar number of patent applications pending. His technical interests include functional programming and the application of mathematical systems theory to biology and drug discovery. Dave is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics at the University of California Los Angeles, a member of the Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering Task Force of the Foundations of Systems Biology in Engineering group, a founding member of the Industrial Haskell Group, and a graduate of the CIO Institute.

Title:

From Nature and back again...Giving new life to materials for energy, electronics, medicine and the environment

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Room: Essex Ballroom
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Organisms have been making exquisite inorganic materials for over 500 million years. Although these materials have many desired physical properties such as strength, regularity, and environmental benign processing, the types of materials that organisms have evolved to work with are limited. However, there are many properties of living systems that could be potentially harnessed by researchers to make advanced technologies that are smarter, more adaptable, and that are synthesized to be compatible with the environment. One approach to designing future technologies which have some of the properties that living organisms use so well, is to evolve organisms to work with a more diverse set of building blocks. These materials could be designed to address many scientific and technological problems in electronics, military, medicine, and energy applications. Examples include a virus enabled lithium ion rechargeable battery we recently built that has many improved properties over conventional batteries, as well as materials for solar and display technologies. This talk will address conditions under which organisms first evolved to make materials and scientific approaches to move beyond naturally evolved materials to genetically imprint advanced technologies.

Biography

Angela Belcher is a Materials Chemist with expertise in the fields of biomaterials, biomolecular materials, organic-inorganic interfaces and solid state chemistry. Her primary research focus is evolving new materials for energy, electronics and the environment. She received her B.S. in Creative Studies with an emphasis in biology from The University of California, Santa Barbara. She continued her education at UCSB and earned a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry (1997). Following a year of postdoctoral research in electrical engineering at UCSB, Dr. Belcher joined the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Chemistry in 1999. She joined the faculty at MIT in 2002. In 2006, she was appointed Germeshausen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Engineering. In 2002, she founded the company Cambrios Technologies, Inc., and in 2007 she founded Siluria Technologies, Inc. At MIT she services as the MIT campus director of the Army UARC -The Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies.

In 2010, Dr. Belcher received the Eni Prize for Renewable and Non-conventional Energy. In 2005, she was named as one of 10 to watch by Fortune magazine for "How The World Will Work In The Next 75 Years." The next year she was named Research Leader of the Year by Scientific American and was awarded a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award. In 2007, Time Magazine named her a "Hero" for her research related to Climate Change. In 2009, Rolling Stone Magazine named her one of the "100 People Who are Changing The World." Other awards include the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship; a Four Star General Recognition Award (US Army), Presidential Early Career Award for Science and Engineering (PECASE), Top 10 Innovators Under 40 (Fortune Magazine), 2002 World Technology Award (Materials), 2002 Popular Science Brilliant Ten, 2002 Technology Review Top 100 Inventors (TR100). She is a 2001 Packard Fellow, won the 2001 Wilson Prize in Chemistry at Harvard University, 2001 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, received the 2000 Beckman Young Investigator Award, received the 1999 DuPont and IBM Young Investigator Awards, and the 1999 Army Research Office Young Investigators Award.

Her work has been published in many prestigious scientific journals including Science and Nature, and has been reported in the popular press including Time, Fortune, Forbes, Discover, Scientific American, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

Title:

Re-engineering the War on Cancer: A Call to Action for Personalized Medicine

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Cancer research, treatment and care has come a long way in the last 50 years, dominating the science in industry and academia. Yet, current cancer treatments are effective only 22 percent of the time and almost half of all patients do not survive five years. Personalized medicine through the use of diagnostic tools can make the difference, but needs to be implemented in the forefront of medicine. There have been many discussions, meetings and plans to make this happen, but the questions remain: Is the science ready? Are the diagnostic tools reliable and reproducible? Do the regulatory agencies have the necessary framework to move personalized medicine products forward? And, will physicians incorporate these new advances into their clinical practice?

Personalized medicine can save lives. Through the human genome project and advances in diagnostic and imaging technology, we now know more about disease than ever before. Every disease area can now be divided into more and more precise sub-types. The challenge now is making those sub-types clinically meaningful. First - we need to instill confidence in physicians and payors to support the diagnostic tools available today. Second - we need to embrace new technology to understand not just what disease sub-type a patient has but how it progresses and recedes. Third - we need to create new tools that will not only improve diagnosis for an individual patient but monitor that patient throughout the course of their disease to ensure that their treatment is at maximal efficacy. Through advanced diagnostics, we can move the treatment paradigm from one that is organ-based (how to treat breast cancer) to one that is mechanism-based (how to treat Her-2 based cancers ).

The Call to Action is clear - we must embrace diagnostics to move the needle in personalized medicine from "concept" to reality in disease management, most notably in cancer. We must replace the "trial and error" and "watch and wait" with "target and succeed". In this talk, I will discuss the successes and failures of personalized medicine to date and how we must make some structural changes in our health care system to ensure its success.

Biography

Mara Aspinall is the Chief Executive Officer of On-Q-ity, an innovative personalized medicine company focused on transforming cancer lifecycle management through diagnostics. On-Q-ity is developing diagnostics that will identify the unique characteristics of an individual's cancer, predict the response to therapy and monitor the efficacy of treatment in multiple cancer types. On-Q-ity leverages two core technologies: Microfluidic chip technology to capture, enumerate, and characterize circulating tumor cells (CTC) from a patient's blood and protein biomarkers to predict treatment response.

Before being recruited to On-Q-ity, Mara was previously president of Genzyme Genetics, a leading provider of testing in the oncology and reproductive markets. Under Mara's leadership, Genzyme Genetics set the standard for quality genetics testing in the industry, while profitably growing at an unprecedented pace. She transformed the business, expanding its scope and reach to become one of the nation's largest diagnostic laboratories. Before that, Mara served as president of Genzyme Pharmaceuticals.

An active participant in the healthcare policy community, Mara is a Director of the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC), a founding Director of the European Personalized Medicine organization (EPEMED), as well as an active member of the Federal Secretary of Health and Human Services' Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society. Mara currently holds an appointment as lecturer in health care policy at Harvard Medical School and is a Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Mara co-authored, "Realizing the Promise of Personalized Medicine" in the Harvard Business Review and, most recently, was named one of the 2010 "100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences" by PharmaVOICE Magazine.

Mara started her business career at Bain & Company, an international strategic consulting firm. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and her Bachelors in International Relations from Tufts University.

Title:

Health, Innovation and Seduction

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Innovation in health typically focuses on scientific and technological breakthroughs. While these are and will continue to be critical, we are leaving a tremendous amount of health on the table. This is a result of "the last mile problem in health" -- we often know the right therapeutic or preventive intervention, but we don't know how to make it compelling enough for most of us to take it or do it.

Part of the answer lies in making health more engaging: we need to make health seductive much in the same way the market does so for nearly every other product. The next generation of health innovation, from robotics to digital medicines, will be engineered to seduce you.

Biography

Innovation in health typically focuses on scientific and technological breakthroughs. While these are and will continue to be critical, we are leaving a tremendous amount of health on the table. This is a result of "the last mile problem in health" -- we often know the right therapeutic or preventive intervention, but we don't know how to make it compelling enough for most of us to take it or do it.



Part of the answer lies in making health more engaging: we need to make health seductive much in the same way the market does so for nearly every other product. The next generation of health innovation, from robotics to digital medicines, will be engineered to seduce you.

Title:

Frontiers in Neuroimaging: from cortical columns to whole brain function, connectivity and morphology

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Room: Essex Ballroom
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

In the last decade and a half, imaging of cellular processes in vivo has been identified as an indispensible capability for biomedical research. Today, numerous different technologies are employed in pursuit of imaging processes such as organ function, intracellular chemistry, tissue perfusion, oxygen utilization, gene expression, and enzyme activity in intact animals and humans. In this effort, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to be rich in information content but inherently poor detection sensitivity, which impose a fundamental limitation on this methodology. In the last two decades, we have pursued ever increasing magnetic fields for use in MRI to alleviate this limitation and also for extracting unique physiological information in humans, going first to 4 Tesla, and subsequently to 7 and 9.4T. A plethora of early experiments, particularly at 7T, demonstrated superior sensitivity and accuracy of functional brain imaging (fMRI) signals, and improvements in several contrast mechanisms for anatomical imaging. In fMRI, these gains have ultimately resulted in unique applications such as robust functional mapping of elementary computational units in the human brain, functional connectivity through resting state fMRI, and neuronal tractography. These applications had to deal with complexities arising from damped traveling wave behavior of 300 MHz RF, the 7T proton frequency, in the human body. These were managed through multichannel transmit capability on the transmit side while, on the receive side, they lead to significant gains in spatial encoding using parallel imaging.

Biography

Professor Kamil Ugurbil holds a Ph.D. in physics and chemical physics from Columbia University. After receiving his Ph.D., he joined AT&T Bell Laboratories, subsequently returning to Columbia University in 1979 as a faculty member. In 1982, he moved to the University of Minnesota where his research effort in magnetic resonance (MR) led to the evolution of his laboratory into an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research center, the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR). Dr. Ugurbil currently holds the McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair Professorship in Radiology, Neurosciences, and Medicine and is the Director of CMRR at the University of Minnesota. His research focus has been the development of biological magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy using very high magnetic fields, with particular emphasis on brain function, anatomy, and chemistry. One of the two studies that introduced functional imaging in the brain using magnetic resonance techniques (fMRI) were conducted in CMRR at the University of Minnesota under his leadership. Since then, his work has primarily revolved around understanding the origins of the MR detected functional signals and developing strategies to improve the spatial accuracy, and spatial resolution of the functional maps obtained by magnetic resonance. The use of ultrahigh magnetic fields (7 Tesla and above) for human studies was pioneered by CMRR as part of this neuroimaging effort.

Professor Ugurbil's contributions to biomedical magnetic resonance was recognized with the Gold Medal from the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) in 1996, the highest award given by this society. He was subsequently elected as a Fellow of ISMRM in 1997 and of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance (ISMAR) in 2009. Dr. Ugurbil was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences (USA) - Institute of Medicine in 2005 and 2007, respectively. In 2005 he received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctorate Honoris Causa) from the University of Utrecht, Netherlands.

Title:

The Third Ring of Health

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

We live our lives in digital networks: cell phones, charge cards, RFID, and more. By mining these 'digital breadcrumbs' we have proven that we can do a good job of knowing your: mood, sleep, GI tract and flu problems, likelihood of depression or PTSD, and more. If we use these same methods to 'collect intelligence' from the people around you we can also estimate your risk of being a crime victim, having a car accident, getting diabetes, and whether you are likely to continue exercising or gain weight. These capabilities allow us to build a 'third ring of health' outside the hospitals and clinics: a consumer-facing system that provides both early warnings of disease or unhealthy behavior, and also enables incentive schemes that we have shown produce dramatically better results for changing health behaviors.

Biography

Alex 'Sandy' Pentland directs MIT's Human Dynamics Laboratory and the MIT Media Lab Entrepreneurship Program, and advises the World Economic Forum and a variety of start-up firms. He has previously helped create and direct MIT's Media Laboratory, the Media Lab Asia laboratories at the Indian Institutes of Technology, and Strong Hospital's Center for Future Health. Profiles of Sandy have appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, Forbes, and Harvard Business Review.

Sandy is among the most-cited scientists in the world, and a pioneer in computational social science, organizational engineering, mobile computing, image understanding, and modern biometrics. His research has been featured in Nature, Science, the World Economic Forum, and Harvard Business Review, as well as being the focus of TV features including Nova and Scientific American Frontiers. His most recent book is 'Honest Signals,' published by MIT Press.

Title:

Applications and opportunities for wearable technology in physiological monitoring

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

It is estimated that patients on general care floors of the hospital are increasingly sicker than ever before, yet the clinician-to-patient ratio has remained low. Serious consequences can arise when patients develop 'hidden' complications in-between clinician visits.

Patient physiologic monitoring can help to identify subtle degradations in patient condition and alert clinicians when attention is needed. Conventional physiological monitoring systems have several limitations when applied to patients on the general care floors. The patients have to be 'wired' to the bed, resulting in immobilization and slower physical and emotional healing. In addition, with traditional monitoring systems, clinician workflow may be complicated by cumbersome equipment management and overwhelming information overload.

Wearable monitoring devices have attracted increasing interest in recent years, both in research and Industry. New technologies and evolving solutions are being developed that can address the constraints of conventional monitoring systems and significantly improve patient outcomes. These solutions must enhance the patient healing process by adapting to the patient condition. They must be robust enough to deal with the environmental constraints of the hospital environment. They must eliminate redundant steps in the clinical workflow. And lastly, they must provide accurate, actionable information to the appropriate caregivers.

In this talk, early experiences with these technologies and solutions will be shared and insights into future development opportunities and accompanying benefits will be offered.

Biography

Dale Wiggins is Vice President of Technology for Philips Healthcare Patient Care and Clinical Informatics. In this role, he leads the team that is focused on driving strategic technology plans across the businesses and oversees activities related to several principal healthcare industry themes including systems integration within the hospital enterprise architecture, clinical decision support, interoperability standards, and outcomes improvement studies and other clinical research.

Previously, Dale was Chief Architect for the global Patient Monitoring business. He joined Philips from Hewlett-Packard/Agilent Technologies where he held various management, architecture, and engineering positions in research and development. Dale holds BS and MS degrees in Computer and Systems Engineering.

Title:

The Process of Innovation

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur, and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined - his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology's virtues and by so doing to change the culture of the United States. As an inventor, he holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide.

Recently, Dean and DEKA have been working with DARPA and the Department of Defense on a robotic arm for our veterans. The story of the arm, dubbed "Luke," illustrates the motivation for and the process of innovation. Behind every invention there is a story as complex and interesting as the device itself.

Dean will also discuss FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit that encourages students to seek careers in science and engineering through robotics competitions. It is up to the current group of technology leaders to inspire the next generation of inventors and innovators; that is what FIRST is all about.

Biography

As an inventor and physicist, Dean Kamen has dedicated his life to developing technologies that help people lead better lives. As an inventor, he holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. While still a college undergraduate, he invented the automatic, self-contained ambulatory pump designed to deliver precise doses of medication to patients with a variety of medical conditions. In 1976 he founded AutoSyringe, Inc., to manufacture and market the pumps. At age 30, he sold that company to Baxter International Corporation. By then, he had developed a number of other infusion devices, including the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics. Following the sale of AutoSyringe, Inc., he founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation to develop internally generated inventions, as well as to provide R&D for major corporate clients.

The array of products and technologies invented and developed by Dean and the engineering team at DEKA is extremely broad. Some examples of notable breakthrough medical devices invented and developed by DEKA are the HomeChoice™ portable dialysis machine, marketed by Baxter Healthcare and the iBOT™ Mobility System, a sophisticated mobility aid developed for Johnson & Johnson. DEKA's other projects include: a DARPA-funded robotic arm project intended to restore functionality for individuals with upper extremity amputations; a new and improved Stirling engine intended to convert almost any fuel into electrical power and clean heat as part of a system that is clean, quiet, easy to use and easy to maintain with a long operating life; new water purification technology intended to convert almost any source water into safe drinking water; and many others. Dean is also widely recognized as the inventor of the Segway™ Human Transporter, which was designed to provide a clean alternative for short distance travel and enhance people's productivity.

Among Dean's proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology. In 2010, its flagship program, the FIRST Robotics Competition, will reach more than 45,000 high-school students on more than 1,800 teams in 43 regional competitions, seven district competitions, and one national championship. The FIRST Robotics Competition teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. In 1998, the FIRST LEGO League was created for children ages 9-14. Similar to the FIRST Robotics Competition, these young participants build a robot and compete in an event designed for their age group. In the 2009/10 season, over 147,000 children participated in 56 countries. FIRST also offers the Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds and the FIRST Tech Challenge, which provides high-school-aged students with a hands-on learning experience to develop and hone their skills and abilities in science and technology.

Dean has received numerous awards and accolades including the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment in 1998, the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 2000, the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002 for Invention and Innovation, the United Nations Association of the USA Global Humanitarian Action Award in 2006, the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers Medal in 2007, the 2008 LEGO Prize, the 2009 Committee for Economic Development Public Policy Award and honorary degrees from more than 25 colleges and universities. Dean was inducted into The National Inventors Hall of Fame in May 2005.

Title:

Modularity for motor coordination

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Room: Essex Ballroom
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Selecting the appropriate muscle pattern to achieve a given goal is an extremely complex task because of the dimensionality of the search space and because of the non-linear and dynamical nature of the transformation between muscle activity and movement. The complex task of mapping a goal into a muscle pattern might be simplified by organizing a modular and hierarchical control architecture. In a modular system the control task is decomposed in a series of simple control processes that can be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, a hierarchical organization allows for an efficient use of the same modules for different tasks and facilitates learning new tasks. To investigate whether the central nervous system uses a modular and hierarchical architecture to control movement we took a reverse engineering approach. We recorded electro-myographical activity from of the hind limb muscles of intact and freely moving frogs during jumping, swimming, and walking in naturalistic conditions with the aim of identifying the invariant characteristics of the motor output as clues of the functional organization of the controller. We used multidimensional factorization techniques to extract specific relationships among the amplitude and timing of the muscle activations observed during a variety of different movements, We found that a small number of synergies could explain a large fraction of the variation in the muscle patterns and that sets of synergies with different number of elements captured different levels of detail, providing a hierarchical characterization of the structure in the patterns. Most synergies appeared to be preserved across different behaviors and animals, supporting the inference that the structure captured by the synergies reflects a modular and hierarchical organization of the controller.

We have also examined muscle activity in stroke patients as they performed different reaching movements. The patients had stroke damage in one cortical hemisphere only, so one arm was impaired while the other was unaffected. By comparing the activity patterns in the two arms, we showed that the same modules were present in both arms, but their activation and combination was disrupted specifically on the affected side; a finding indicating that the supra-spinal motor control areas generate movements specifying the combination of synergies and by setting up the right coefficient of activation for each spinal synergy.

Biography

Born in Rome, Italy, Emilio Bizzi received his M.D. from the University of Rome in 1958, and his Docenza in 1968. He is currently an Institute Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He served as Chairman of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT from 1986 to 1997 and Director of Whitaker College of Health Sciences, Technology, and Management at MIT from 1983 to 1989.

Dr. Bizzi's primary research interest is the understanding of how the brain controls voluntary movements. To this end he has focused on two related questions: how does the brain handle the enormous complexity involved in making even the simplest movement and how does the brain learn a new motor task and then generalize that learning to each new variation of the task. During the last two years, he began investigations of of applying his work on muscle modules to methods that could lead to enhanced rehabilitation. In addition, his lab also continues collaborations with neurosurgeons from Massachusetts General Hospital to develop the next generation of neural prosthetics.

He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (1986), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, (1980), where he recently completed service as President. In 1998 he was elected to the Accademia dei Lincei, Rome. In 2004 he was awarded a degree "honoris causa" in Biomedical Engineering, University of Genova , Italy. (2004), and in 2005 he was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

He has won awards for his research and academic work including the W. Alden Spencer Award and the Hermann von Helmoltz Award for Excellence in Neuroscience, and in 2005 received the President of Italy Gold Medal for achievements in science and the Empedocles Prize.

He has authored numerous publications over the years, including text books, journal articles, reviews, and abstracts.

Title:

Study of Human Diseases Across Disciplinary Boundaries

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Major advances in various branches of engineering and natural sciences, coupled with transformational developments in information technology, computational modeling and simulation, genetics, genomics, and nanotechnology, have provided unprecedented opportunities to explore human health and diseases at the cellular, subcellular, and molecular levels. Such developments have also facilitated completely new opportunities to study fundamental mechanistic processes with the goal of developing basic scientific understanding, new diagnostic tools, and novel therapeutics across a wide variety of human diseases. This presentation will provide an overview of some recent accomplishments and opportunities for future exploration. Specific examples are drawn from the study of infectious diseases, hereditary blood disorders, and cancer.

Biography

Dr. Subra Suresh, distinguished engineer and professor, was sworn in as the 13th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) on October 18, 2010. Suresh leads the only federal agency charged with advancing all fields of fundamental science and engineering research and education. He oversees the NSF's $7-billion budget, directing programs and initiatives that keep the United States at the forefront of science and engineering, empower future generations of scientists and engineers, foster economic growth and innovation, and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

Prior to his confirmation as NSF director, Suresh served as Dean of the Engineering School and Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He joined MIT's faculty ranks in 1993 as the R.P. Simmons Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. During his more than 30 years as a practicing engineer, he held joint faculty positions in four departments at MIT as well as appointments at the University of California at Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Brown University.

A mechanical engineer interested in materials science and biology, Suresh pioneered research to understand the mechanical properties of materials. His most recent research tackled the biomechanics of red blood cells under the influence of diseases such as malaria. In 2006, Technology Review magazine selected Suresh's work on nanobiomechanics as one of the top 10 emerging technologies that "will have a significant impact on business, medicine or culture."

Holding true to his personal ideals, Suresh successfully leveraged his renowned research and leadership positions in academia to increase the number of women and minority engineers. He personally mentored more than 100 engineers and scientists in his research group. As department head and dean of engineering, he also led a successful campaign to increase the number of women among MIT's engineering faculty ranks.

The Padma Shri Award (2011) from the President of India, Indian Science Congress General President's Award (2011), Society of Engineering Science Eringen Medal (2008), European Materials Medal (2007) and Acta Materialia Gold Medal (2006) are among the many prestigious awards Suresh has received for his innovative research and commitment to improving engineering education around the world. He holds honorary doctorate degrees from Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology and Spain's Polytechnic University of Madrid. He has been elected a fellow or honorary fellow of all the major materials societies in the United States and India, including the American Society of Materials International, Materials Research Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Ceramic Society, the Indian Institute of Metals and the Materials Research Society of India.

Suresh has authored more than 230 research articles in international journals and is a co-inventor in more than 18 U.S. and international patent applications. He is author or co-author of several books that are widely used in materials science and engineering, including Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Materials. He has consulted with more than 20 international corporations and research laboratories and served as a member of several international advisory panels and non-profit groups.

Suresh has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, German National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of the Developing World, Indian National Academy of Engineering and Indian Academy of Sciences.

He earned his bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras in 1977; his master's from Iowa State University in 1979; and his doctorate from MIT in 1981. Suresh married his wife, Mary, in 1986, and they have two children, Nina and Meera.

Title:

The Power of Collaboration to Improve Medicine

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Biography

John A. Parrish, MD, proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was a battlefield doctor in Vietnam. He is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT), a consortium of academic and engineering research laboratories, universities and more than 40 private-sector companies. Through CIMIT, clinical investigators work to advance the standards of care for all patients through the development and the adoption of targeted medical devices and technologies. Trained in internal medicine, dermatology and clinical research, Dr. Parrish has been recognized as a visionary and innovator who lists among his accomplishments the development of therapies to treat skin disease, including the now-common use of ultraviolet light. For two decades, Dr. Parrish served as chief of the Department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, founding the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, the first - and now the world's largest - multidisciplinary research group to study the effects of lasers on tissue.

A graduate of Duke University and Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Parrish is a member of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Science, the National Space Biomedical Research Institute and the Defense Science Board. He has earned the Discovery Award from the National Dermatology Foundation; the Bowditch Prize from Massachusetts General Hospital for enhancing the quality of patient care while reducing the cost of that care; and the U.S. Army's Thurman Award, honoring the late Gen. Maxwell Reid Thurman, who championed the advancement of lifesaving medical technologies within the U.S. Army. Dr. Parrish is the author or co-author or more than 300 publications, including six books.

Title:

Development of Medical Devices: China's Perspectives

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Medical Technology may have broad sense, including medical devices, therapy technology and medication. This report provides an overview on the development of medical devices in China. Medical device industry is a typical innovation-driven, interdisciplinary and global competitive emerging strategic industry. Currently, United States, West Europe and Japan account for over 84% of global medical device market share, while China accounts for only 3% with low-end products. China's 1.37 billion people as well as more than 300 thousand medical and health institutions make China the world's third largest medical device market after US and Europe. The annual growth rate has been more than 20% in recent years. The goal of building a moderately prosperous society and the reform of the medical and health system further secure this fast growth. By the end of 2015, total demand of medical devices in China is expected to reach 50 Billion RMB (about 1% of GDP). "Early health" philosophy is changing the patterns of medical development. This will give a strong push in developing a series of sophisticated-techniques medical devices, such as new imaging technology, non-invasive diagnosis, neural and brain signal detection analysis, interventional therapy, new medical sensors/biosensors/biochips, personal genomics/proteomics and other core technologies. Strengthening the primary medical care system is one of the priorities of the medical system reform. Rural and community health care as well as family care require a huge amount of medical equipment, which should have features of high performance, low cost, intelligence, portability and easiness of operation. Multi-functional and mobile medical platforms are also important especially for rural and field work people. Such demands are giving the researchers opportunities and challenges. Standardization of diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) create opportunities for the development of modern TCM apparatus, comprising high-precision pulse meter, tongue imaging, new acupuncture treatment instrument, and so on. Real success of these devices will depend on a wide range of clinical investigation. Data banks of pathological/physical signs are also to be built. To achieve the goal mentioned above will largely rely on the development of multi-/interdisciplinary, particularly nano technology, photonics and microelectronics, new and biocompatible materials, high precision imaging technology, network technology, remote medicine technology, genome sequencing and bioinformatics, etc.

Biography

Dr. Xian-En Zhang received his first degree in Hubei University in 1982, MPhil. (microbiology) and Ph.D. (biochemistry) later in the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). He became a full professor in Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS in 1993. He is specializing in analytical biotechnology (particularly recombinant biosensors) with 160 peer-reviewed papers and three books on biosensors and biochips. He serves as a vise chair of the Chinese Society for Microbiology, a vice chair of Biophysical Society of China, editorial member of a few international scientific journals (such as Biosensors & Bioelectronics, Biocatalysis & Biotransformation), and guest professor in a number of universities.

Since 2002, Dr. Zhang has been serving as director general of Basic Research Department, China Ministry of Science and Technology, where he mainly involves in policy study and national planning for science development, and implantation of national major basic research program and the State Key Laboratories. He is the author or coauthor of many science and technology development reports, including the book “The role of science and technology in building the powers”.

Title:

The Importance of Neuromechanical Limb Models in the Design of Leg Prostheses and Orthoses

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Room: Essex Ballroom South / Center
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

A long-standing goal in rehabilitation science is to apply neuromechanical principles of human movement to the development of highly functional prostheses and orthoses. Critical to this effort is the development of actuator technologies that behave like muscle, device architectures that resemble the body's own musculoskeletal design, and control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement. In this lecture, I discuss how agonist-antagonist actuation, polyarticular limb architecture, and reflex behaviors can result in quiet, stable, and economical legged mechanisms for walking and running. Neuromechanical models are presented to examine the importance of limb morphology and neural control on locomotory performance. These models are then used to motivate design strategies for prosthetic and orthotic mechanisms.

Biography

Hugh Herr is an associate Professor within MIT's Program of Media Arts and Sciences, and The Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. His primary research objective is to apply principles of biomechanics and neural control to guide the designs of wearable robotic systems for human rehabilitation and physical augmentation. In the area of human augmentation, Professor Herr has employed cross bridge models of skeletal muscle to the design and optimization of a new class of human-powered mechanisms that amplify endurance for cyclic anaerobic activities. He has also built elastic shoes that increase metabolic economy for running, and leg exoskeletons for walking load-carrying augmentation. In the area of assistive technology, Professor Herr's group has developed powered orthotic and prosthetic mechanisms for use as assistive interventions in the treatment of leg disabilities caused by amputation, stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Professor Herr has authored or coauthored over 60 technical publications in biomechanics and wearable robotics, and was the recipient of the 2007 Heinz Award for Technology, Economy, and Employment.

Title:

A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth:How research and innovation in ICT, miniaturisation and micro-nano-bio systems meet the future challenges for health and well being

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Sunday, Sep 04 2011

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The European Framework Program for Research, Development and Innovation has to elaborate world-class advanced research results and to contribute to the larger policy objectives of the Union. Europe has still to overcome the fragmentation of its' research landscape and to create a true integrated single European research area. It needs to invest more in innovation and manufacturing to bring research results faster to the market and has to invest in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We should make best use of these competence Regions in Europe where knowledge in specific fields is concentrated for the benefit of the EU competitiveness at large and for the well being of the European citizens.

The first part of the presentation will address these policy objectives and the recent flagships and activities launched. The second part will go more into detail on the research activities being executed and planned in the near future in order to meet the European challenges for health, well being and assistance of aging population. In particular, we will look at how smart miniaturisation, smart integration and smart systems can contribute to a more healthy future for our aging citizens. How can miniaturisation help elderly to stay longer independent? Comfort, predictability, reliability and cost are the issues. What can we expect from the convergence of micro-nano-bio-ICT technologies and smart systems for the future personalized healthcare? What opportunities may offer the mix of different scientific disciplines, the integration of different technologies and how will this multi-diciplinarity affect the research and engineering landscape?

A holistic view on this emerging field covering research on technologies and products, manufacturing and market and business opportunities need to be considered. Examples of on going European projects and planned activities will be given and some opportunities for international collaboration elaborated.

Biography

Dirk is an engineer in physics, in nuclear science and in material science (University of Ghent - Belgium - 1976). Before joining the European Commission he was involved in statistics and as engineering and technology manager in setting up a laboratory to sustain the design of microelectronic components and subsequently in setting up a manufacturing site in micro-electronics to produce digital, analogue and high voltage components. He was responsible for a team dealing with technology development and technology transfer between different organizations.

He has joined the European Commission in 1990 where he has been responsible for research initiatives in micro-electronics under different European Frameworks (FP) for Research and for cooperation with Eureka in that field. He also was responsible for setting up the work-plan for research in e-work, e-business, e-commerce (FP5). He has started a Unit and a Program dealing with 'Integrated Micro and Nanosystems' (FP 5 and 6) including Microsystems, sensors, interfaces, displays and large area integration and for setting up the work-plan for Photonics at the start of the 7th Framework. He is now responsible for running within Directorate General Information Society the Unit of 'nano-electronics' dealing with the implementation of Framework 6 and 7 activities, with planning the future activities and with all related research, innovation stimulation and regulatory activities in these fields. He is recently nominated Executive Director - at interim - of the first public private partnership between industry, European Member States and the European Commission in the field of Nanoelectronics (The Joint Undertaking ENIAC). Owner of 2 patents and author of more than 100 articles on diverse research topics, on commercialization, on innovation and research strategies mainly in the field of micro-nano-technologies and miniaturization.

Title:

Neuromodulation

8:00 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH (Harvard Medical School)

Room: Fairfield
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, MPH - Harvard Medical School
2. Jennifer Thomson, PhD - Harvard Graduate School of Education
3. Frederick Ulam, PhD - University of Missouri

Abstract

In the field of neurorehabilitation, there has been a rapid development of electroencephalography (EEG)-based techniques, including the use of neurofeedback in rehabilitation and the measurement of event related potentials (ERP). Neurofeedback techniques are based on the notion that subjects can voluntarily modulate their brain activity as indexed by EEG, and also that neuropsychological disorders have EEG signatures. ERP measurement is a technique that quantifies transient neural electrophysiological responses arising as a result of external stimuli; changes in ERP patterns can index response to neurorehabilitation at a micro-level. In this short course we will cover the basics of ERP measurement and neurofeedback techniques. We will review both their independent and combined uses in neurorehabilitation, as well as discussing how they intersect with other neuromodulation techniques.

Title:

Planning your Future: Putting Together a Short and Long Term Career Plan

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Cristian A. Linte, PhD (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This session is focused on getting the EMBS trainees up to speed on the ins and outs of both an academic and industry career in biomedical engineering. Depending on what you intend to pursue, you must know what you are getting yourself into and become familiar with the "currency" you need to trade with. Our speakers will include senior academics and industry-based career development professionals who will provide coaching in terms of what is expected of you for each professional career, what you need to do to achieve your aims and how to keep your career plan up to date to get you closer to your end goals.

Title:

Computing Brain Networks

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Lucia Vaina, MD, PhD (Boston University)

Room: Salon J
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Alexandre Gramfort,Ph.D.-Harvard Medical School
2. Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli, PhD - Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lucia Vaina, MD, PhD - Boston University
3. Anastasia Yendiki, PhD - Harvard Medical School

Abstract

During this short workshop we will provide an overview on recently developed methods to derive brain connectivity information and their potential clinical applications. We will discuss methods to study resting state functional connectivity (rs-fcMRI). rs-fcMRI can reveal intrinsic, spontaneous networks which elucidate the basic functional organization of the human brain. A common approach to investigating rs-fcMRI is the "seed-based" approach where it is critical to appropriately address noise in order to avoid possible confounds from spurious correlations based on non-neuronal sources. We will present a functional connectivity toolbox that implements the CompCor strategy for noise source reduction, which provides increased protection against such confounds. We will then discuss some recent developments in neuroimaging toward the study of spontaneous brain activity and observation of large-scale structures aimed at identifying brain architecture and markers of brain pathologies. To date, there has been no demonstration that the limited and noisy data available in spontaneous activity observations could be used to learn full- brain probabilistic models that generalize to new data. We will present a technique that attempts to describe subject-level brain functional connectivity structure as a multivariate Gaussian process and to estimate it from group data, by imposing a common structure on the graphical model in the population. We will show that individual models learned from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data using this population prior generalize better to unseen data than models based on alternative regularization schemes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a cross-validated model of spontaneous brain activity. Finally, we will discuss the reconstruction of white-matter pathways from diffusion-weighted MR images. This is a challenging problem due to imaging noise and distortions in the data, uncertainty in the presence of crossing pathways, and a large solution space. We will discuss a fully automated method for reconstructing a set of major white-matter pathways using prior information on their surrounding anatomy

Title:

The Future of Rehabilitation Robotics

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Join us for a session in which clinicians and leaders from the private sector discuss their vision on how robotics is about to change rehabilitation medicine. Panel members will discuss a series of questions such as the following. Is robotics going to generate new paradigms in orthotics and prosthetics? Is the work of therapists going to be augmented or replaced by robots? Is robotics the way to deliver rehabilitation interventions in the home setting?

Title:

Innovation & Entrepreneurship in BME

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Colin Brenan (Center for the Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology )

Ming Jack Po (Columbia University)

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

This expert panel discussion will provide insight into the process of technology development and funding, from a nascent idea to the next hot biomedical company.

The session will be chaired by Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Science Center and our panel includes individuals with diverse expertise in different aspects of early stage commercialization:

Mr. Josh Philips, Managing Partner for Catalyst Health & Technology Partners;
Mr. Jon Lourie, Esq, Partner at Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge;
Mr. Dave Greenwald, CEO & Founder of Relay Technology Management (a MassChallenge 2010 finalist)
Dr. Ron Newbower, Founder & CTO of the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT).

The presenting entrepreneurs are:
Utkan Demirci, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences & Technology, Harvard Medical School
Elliot Swart, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University
George K. Lewis Jr., Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University

The session will be 90 minutes with the following format:

Introduction and initial comments by each panel member ~5 min each for a total of 25 min (max);
5 min investor pitches by three prospective entrepreneurs plus 10 min Q&A with the panel and audience for a total of 45 min (NOTE: these will be elevator pitches with NO SLIDES); and,
Panel discussion and final comments - remaining 20 minutes.

Title:

Let the Great World Spin - The Delicate Art of Balance

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Diane Damiano, PT, PhD (National Institutes of Health Deborah Northwestern University)

Deborah Gaebler-Spira, MD ()

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Lorenzo Chiari, PhD - University of Bologna
2. Diane Damiano, PT, PhD - National Institutes of Health
3. Deborah Gaebler-Spira, MD - Northwestern University
4. Emily Keshner, PT, EdD - Temple University

Abstract

Balance Rehabilitation is necessary in diverse clinical populations to prevent falls and increase patient participation in activities of daily living. Understanding the mechanisms of postural control and balance is necessary in providing an optimal rehabilitation program however; ensuring the therapy program is carried out is the next greatest challenge. Monitored therapy time in the clinic is limited, therefore therapists are looking towards community classes and home based therapies such as the Wii to motivate and continue balance training outside therapy sessions. The limitations of these options include little or no outcomes feedback and decreased control of the direction of therapy. Novel solutions such as integration of open source games with inexpensive off the shelf balance platforms or use of body worn sensors with virtual reality gaming will allow the therapist to focus therapy while receiving clinical data on home therapy outcomes. Monitoring technology may allow the therapist a greater understanding of their patients balance within the home environment while also serving as fall detectors. This Panel Discussion will be led by a group of leading clinicians and engineers who are focused on understanding and developing innovative solutions towards assessing and directing therapy for balance rehabilitation.

Title:

Frontiers and Future Trends in Brain-Machine Interface

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Bin He, PhD (University of Minnesota)

Room: Salon H
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Tim Denison, PhD - Medtronic Inc.
2. Shangkai Gao, PhD - Tsinghua University
3. Bin He, PhD - University of Minnesota
4. José del R. Millán, PhD - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
5. Grace Peng, PhD - National Institutes of Health
6. Jose Principe, PhD - University of Florida
7. Nitish Thakor, PhD - Johns Hopkins University

Abstract

Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) research has shown great promises in the past several years to enable subjects to interface the brain with machines. Such hybrid systems interfacing the brain and machines represent an excited emerging field of research in neuroengineering. Recent progresses have shown that trained monkeys can control an artificial limb from invasive recordings in motor cortex, or trained humans can control flight of a virtual helicopter in real- time in 3-dimensional sky from noninvasive scalp-recorded electroencephalograms. In this Panel Discussion, leading experts from academia, government and industry in BMI and brain-computer interface (BCI) will discuss the latest developments in BMI/BCI, the challenges and future trends of the field of BMI/BCI.

Title:

The Recent Earthquake in Japan: Experience of, and responses to, Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Toshiyo Tamura, PhD (Japanese Society of Biological and Medical Engineering)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Atsunori Nakagawa, PhD - Tohoku University
2. Yuichi Kimura, PhD - National Institute of Radiological Sciences
3. Masatsugu Fujie, PhD - Waseda University
4. Tetsuji Watanabe,PhD - Teijin Home Health Care

Abstract

On March 11, 2011, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake devastated north-east Japan. The people of Japan have received an outpouring of sympathy and offers of assistance from all over the world. A few months after this disaster, they have started to resume their normal daily activities. In this panel discussion, some of the key players in responding to such emergency situation will review the
disaster and describe how their tragic experience has changed the way they intend to plan for potential future responses to natural disasters as the one they recently experienced.

Title:

Keynote Lectures and Panel Discussion

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

EMBC 2011 Program Committee (EMBS)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dirk Beernaert, PhD - European Commission
2. John Parrish, MD - Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology
3. Subra Suresh, PhD - National Science Foundation
4. Xian-En Zhang, PhD - Chinese Ministry of Science & Technology

Abstract

Keynotes - Click here for more information

Panel Discussion

Title:

Dynamic Nonlinear Modeling of Neural Ensemble Activity

9:00 am - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Vasilis Marmarelis, PhD (University of Southern California)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Theodore W. Berger, PhD - University of Southern California
2. Emery N. Brown, MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School
3. Sam Deadwyler, PhD - Wake Forest University
4. Apostolos Georgopoulos, PhD - University of Minnesota
5. Nicholas Hatsopoulos, PhD - The University of Chicago
6. Vasilis Z. Marmarelis, PhD - University of Southern California
7. Christopher Pack, PhD - McGill University
8. Christoph E. Schreiner, PhD - University of California in San Francisco

Abstract

This Workshop will bring together experts on the emerging subject of modeling the interrelationships among neuronal ensembles using multi-channel (i.e. multi-neuron) recordings. This subject is attracting increasing attention because of its fundamental importance in understanding brain function and the recent availability of multi-channel recordings from multielectrode arrays. The latter are now chronically implanted in various parts of the brain by several research groups and provide a wealth of electrophysiological data previously unavailable. This creates an exciting opportunity and a new urgency for the development of effective methodologies for the analysis of the collected vast databases in a manner that leads to increased scientific understanding of brain function without simplifying the inherent complexity of the problem. Fundamental in this regard is the issue of nonlinear dynamic modeling of the activity of multiple interconnected neurons, because of the intrinsic nonlinearities of neuronal dynamics and the nonlinear interconnections among neurons within the ensemble.

Title:

The Integrated Patient Care Environment: Device Connectivity, EMR Integrated Patient Data, Patient Centric Identification & Association and Embedded RTLS / RFID Technologies

8:15 am - 10:45 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Paul Frisch (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

Abstract

Over the past decade the patient care environment has transitioned from a set of discrete and independent devices and applications to an integrated and dynamic environment. This integrated environment provides, device interconnectivity, data sharing and mining, patient centric identification and association and real time location. These technologies are dependent on complex wireless and network infrastructure, seamlessly enabling data to be shared by multiple systems and applications. In addition connectivity real time location information, such as RFID, establishes the dynamic relationships between patients, staff and equipment. The complexity of this environment has significantly impacted the roles of IT and engineering and clinical staff requiring new operational synergies to develop this highly interactive environment. Advanced clinical applications integrating medical devices and supporting technologies have significantly increased the quality and the quantity of patient diagnostic and monitoring information, and have further added complexity to the issues of data and alarm management and point of care information delivery.

These advances have been coupled with increasing workloads and reduced staffing; have revealed difficulties in effectively prioritizing and handling this information resulting in increased equipment-related errors, patient dissatisfaction, the potential for patient injury, and an increasing overall concern for patient safety. Concerns about this trend have prompted the Joint Commission to establish patient safety initiatives geared to establishing methodologies and protocols to reduce the probability of errors, and providing an enhanced level of communications.

The goals of this interdisciplinary workshop will focus on identifying and defining the issues around this dynamic environment and the technologies projected to provide resolution to the above workflows. Speakers will address specific methodologies, technologies and applications focusing on connectivity, data sharing, real time location and RFID, patient centric identification and association, wireless and network infrastructure, point of care information delivery and communications, and the electronic medical record and documentation issues.

Title:

Brain Computer Interface Tutorial Workshop

9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Robert Prückl, Dipl.-Ing. (g.tec Guger Technologies OG)

Room: Salon H / Salon I
Floor 4, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Robert Prückl, Dipl.-Ing., g.tec Guger Technologies OG
2. Deniz Erdogmus, Ph.D., Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
3. Gerwin Shalk, Ph.D., Wadsworth Center, NYS Dept of Health, NY, USA.

Abstract

The direct connection between the human brain and a computer, a so-called Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), is what research groups all over the world are working on feverishly and successfully. A brain-computer interface translates brain waves into control signals. BCIs have been developed during the last years for people with severe disabilities to improve their quality of life. Applications of BCI systems comprise the restoration of movements, communication and environmental control. In this tutorial workshop will demonstrate some the major concepts for BCI control like P300 and steady state evoked potentials (SSVEP) for spelling and robot control. This allows the audience to see all required hardware and software, the typical training and classifier setup and the achievable accuracies. We will invite people from the auditorium to participate in the live demonstrations

Intended Audience

This workshop is intended for people interested in learning the new skill of BCI communication, people, working in the area of human-computer interaction, neuro-rehabilitation, working with handicapped people, innovative human computer interaction, people interested in combining BCI technology in their field of expertise.

Preliminary Program

09:00-09:30 - Introduction: Using the different BCI systems
Presented by: Robert Prueckl

The talk gives a technical over view of the different BCI systems. It will discuss the most common concepts to build a BCI system. It will focus on P300, Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEP) and motor imagery.

09:30-10:15 - Designing SSVEP based BCI systems: Current developments
Presented by: Deniz Erdogmus

The current achievements in the design and implementation of BCI systems for controlling robots and text input using SSVEP will be presented in this talk. There by the design of algorithms for statistical signal processing and classification using pseudorandom binary sequences and language models tightly coupled in text entry will be discussed. The real-time performance of these algorithms will be discussed with respect to the proposed applications.

10:15-10:30 - Interfacing Social Interaction and Communication applications
Presented by: Robert Prueckl

This talk will focus on how to interface different applications with the BCI system. It will present a generic standardized interface and how it can be used to build BCI systems for participation in social networks like twitter or second life, to control smart home environments or virtual or robotic avatars. The presented applications are intended empower paraplegic and ALS patients to fully participate in the social life, get in contact with friends and relatives easily.

10:30-11:15 - ECoG based BCI systems
Presented by: Gerwin Schalk

In this talk the usage of the Electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings instead of the EEG to build a BCI system will be discussed. The current developments of ECoG BCI systems will be presented.

11:15-12:00 - Life demonstrations
Presented by: All faculty

In the life demonstration the audience will have the possibility to test a P300 setup for spelling and a SSVEP setup for direct robot control. The audience will be asked to actively participate in the experiments as subjects.

Title:

Bioacoustical Signal Processing: with Applications in Body Sounds Analysis

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Sridhar Krishnan (Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Eng., Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

Abstract

Bioacoustical signal processing aims to establish a relationship between mechanical events within living organisms and the sounds these events give rise to. Since clinical evidences reveal the possible links between sounds produced within human body and various pathological processes, the medical use of bioacoustics is therefore to extract and analyze the valuable information hidden in these symptom-related audio signals under the guidance of clinical values.
Extraction of low-level representative and discriminative features from audio signal provides the basis for signal classification for diagnosis and therefore consists the most important step in bioacoustical signal processing. Over the last several years, various feature extraction techniques have been proposed to capture the intrinsic characteristics of body sound signals, such as embedded periodicity, nonlinearity, nonstationarity, and non-Gaussianity. In general, all the feature extraction methods utilize one of the following signal representation domains: temporal domain, spectral or joint time-frequency (TF) domain. The tutorial will cover the main techniques that are associated with each of the three domains with applications in the analysis of various body sounds including respiratory sounds, heart sounds, knee sounds, and sleeping sounds.
Temporal domain feature extraction approaches such as signal energy and Entropy modulation will be addressed first followed by the introduction of spectral feature analysis methods such as cepstral coefficients and higher order spectra. Advantages and challenges associated with these methods will be discussed. Joint TF features will then be introduced to reveal non-stationary aspects of signals such as trends, discontinuities, repeated patterns and long-term feature representation. The recent advancements in feature extraction using TF-methods based on adaptive signal representations such as pursuits-based, empirical mode decompositions, and dominance spectrogram will be illustrated. The goal of this session is to introduce both the benchmark and up-to-date bioacoustical signal processing methods for body sounds analysis and their applications to pathology diagnosis.

Title:

Guaranteeing A Future for Blind Source Separation in Biomedical Signal Processing

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Christopher James (Univ of Warwick, Institute of Digital Healthcare, UK)

Phlypo Ronald (GIPSA Lab, Grenoble, France)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Christopher James, PhD - University of Warwick
2. Phlypo Ronald, PhD - GIPSA Lab

Abstract

The first part will give a review of the Blind Source Separation in literature, comprising a general historical overview and a more specific overview of (recent) applications in Biomedical Signal Processing. Special attention will be paid to the family of instantaneous linear mixture models, with a justification of the model on bio-electrical and -magnetic grounds. Attention will also be given to the benefits and drawbacks from different models and the conditions under which they are valid. The talk will continue with more recent advances in Blind Source Separation, including multi-modality and multi-dimensional signal processing (tensors).

When coming to these current research efforts the gap with future research directions can be bridged quite comfortably, yielding an opportunity to start up a round table debate involving the attendees.

Title:

Innovative measurements and processing for sleep studies

12:11 am - 12:12 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Sergio Cerutti (Department of Bioengineering)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Interest in sleep research has grown during the last decades. Sleep is a physiological process that is essential for the life of human-beings and for the maintaining of homeostatic conditions. A poor quality of sleep can lead to a poor quality of life. This is due to its influence on memory, attention, mood changes. Further, sleep disturbances have been associated to many different pathologies of neurological, cardiovascular or psychiatric origin. For these reasons research on the neurophysiological bases of sleep has been carried on, in order to better understand its physiology and the nature of pathological events. From this point of view sleep is explored as a multi-organ phenomenon taking into consideration not only the behavior of the central nervous system, but also of peripheral systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, motor systems) and their dynamical behavior related to both macro and microstructure of sleep.
In parallel, signal and image processing and classification procedures have been developed in order to obtain discriminative parameters and algorithm for automatic classification aiming at supporting the doctor's decisions in clinics. This could be obtained through the use of machine-learning, computer-vision or artificial intelligence techniques.
This session, organized inside the Biomedical Signal Processing Theme, wants to describe some innovative procedures of measurement and processing for enhancing new parameters and indicators.

Title:

Algorithms for Seizure Prediction: towards wearable devices to support epileptic people

12:13 am - 12:14 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

António Dourado (Department of Informatics Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Seizure prediction of refractory epileptic patients is a challenging problem, whose solution will improve substantially the quality of life of about one third of all epileptic people. About 1% of the world population is epileptic.
During the last decade a large effort has been devoted by the scientific community to develop EEG-ECG processing algorithms to predict the incoming seizure, with the aim to develop a wearable device to warn the patient some time before. Different approaches have been followed and significative progresses have been made. In this session some of these progresses will be reported and discussed. Part of the presenters are participating in the European Union supported FP7 Project Epilepsiae – Evolving Platform for Improving the Living Expectation of People Suffering from IctAl Events (www.epilepsiae.eu). Other speakers have different experiences with the same aim. Algorithms derived from physiological knowledge and algorithms issued from data mining by computational intelligence will be reported. The results to be shown have been obtained considering more than one hundred patients in long–time continuous recordings in order to obtain statistical relevance. A miniaturized device for EEG-ECG acquisition and patient warning will also be presented by its industrial developer.
The proposed session has 6 papers from 5 countries. Presenters are from academia, research laboratories and medical equipment industry

Title:

Algorithms for Seizure Prediction: Towards Wearable Devices to Support Epileptic People

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Antonio Dourado (University of Coimbra)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

I have just remarked that the deadline for invited sessions proposal was yesterday December 18th. This proposal is written on the knee, a. If the organizers think that this session would be appropriate then I will complete the proposal as soon as possible. Please inform me about this, and the deadline that I should respect.A apologize for the distraction and thank your understanding.

Abstract:
Seizure prediction of refractory epileptic patients is a challenging problem whose solution will improve substantially the quality of life of the millions of people suffering from that disease.
There are actually several projects worldwide working on the problem. The EU FP7 EPILEPSIAE project is one of them (www.epilepsiae.eu), whose coordinator is the proposer of this invited session.
Six speakers will present the most recent developments in algorithms for seizure prediction, two or three from EPILEPSIAE, the others from other projects worldwide.
The algorithms will be based on computational intelligence (namely artificial neural networks, support vector machines, genetic algorithms) and on physiological circadian concepts.
The objective of the session is to compare and discuss the several approaches that are being pursued to build a transportable device that can give an alarm to the patient when a seizure s predicted, with at least 10-15 minutes in advance.

Title:

Nonlinear Modeling of Dynamic Biomedical Systems

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Vasilis Marmarelis (Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California)

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

This session will bring together experts on the subject of "Nonlinear Modeling of Dynamic Biomedical Systems" which attracts growing attention as it becomes increasingly evident that dynamics and nonlinearities are two essential aspects of physiological function and the scientific understanding of the latter is not possible in most cases without taking into account dynamics and nonlinearities. The focus of this session will be on practical and effective modeling methodologies and their application to various physiological systems, including neural, cardio-vascular and endocrine-metabolic.

The organizer (V.Z. Marmarelis) has a considerable track-record in organizing such invited sessions in previous conferences. However, he has not done this in recent years because of other competing obligations. Thus, it will be particularly gratifying to repeat the success of the previous sessions and enrich further the scientific program of the EMBC. The popular perception of this particular field of study is that it is valuable but rather demanding (due to its intrinsic complexity). However, most knowledgeable observers would agree that the realization of the need -- and in fact the sense of urgency -- for such advanced modeling methodologies has increased in recent years and, therefore, the participants of the EMBC are likely to find considerable interest in such thematic session.

Title:

Addressing Complexity in Biomedical Research: Data Processing and Mining for Large Biomedical Datasets

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Dr. Aristotelis A. Chatziioannou (Institute of Biological Research & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.)

Dr. Ilias Maglogiannis (Institute of Biological Research & Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece and University of Central Greece, Lamia, Greece.)

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Modern biomedical research is revolutionizing our approach regarding the phenomenon of Life and holds the promise for delivering effective therapies, tailored to the exact biological state of an individual (personalized healthcare solutions). Innovative measurement and instrumentation technologies throughout the whole extent of Biomedicine(-omics, biosignals, imaging) amass huge volumes of data, setting new challenges regarding their efficient processing interpretation and integration. The Internet and its ever increasing digital resources (literature, provenance data, clinical records, etc.), together with methodologies of computational intelligence regarding data management and processing target the consolidation of Translational Research, namely the movement of discoveries from the Bench to the clinical level. High dimensionality is ubiquitously present, so efficiently addressing this complexity by applying or developing innovative computational approaches, represents a common element in this direction.

Title:

Modeling cardiovascular hemodynamics for clinical application

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Mohanraj Karunanithi (AeHRC, ICT Centre, Commonwealth of Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

The aim of the invited session is to demonstrate research that modeled hemodynamics represent physiological features for diagnosis and help in clinical application. This invited presentation will firstly focus on circulatory models that estimate pulse transit time and myocardial oxygen demand from hemodynamics parameters such as blood pressure, flow, and heart rate. The session will then expand to towards hemodynamic modeling for testing and physiological control of that rotary blood flow pumps. Moreover, the Starling flow characteristics of these rotary blood flow pumps will be demonstrated.

Title:

Resolving Signal Complexity in Diverse Rehabilitation Applications

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Prof. S. Hamid Nawab (Boston University)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Rehabilitation applications such as those involving the analysis of gait, movement disorders, and surface EMG in prosthetics, motor control, and speech pose scientific and practical challenges for the development of algorithms to resolve high degrees of signal complexity. In particular, the involved signals typically are a result of linear and/or non-linear superposition of non-linear dynamics of multiple physiological phenomena of interest. These dynamics become even more challenging to resolve when the signals are acquired under unconstrained conditions such as that of a subject freely moving about or speaking in his/her everyday environment. In this session, prominent researchers in the field will describe how these challenges are being addressed through approaches based upon advanced concepts and algorithms from signal processing, pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and dynamic systems theory.

Dr. Nawab will begin the session by discussing an integrated signal processing and artificial intelligence approach that he and his colleagues have helped to develop and refine for resolving high degrees of superposition between different signal components of varied physiological origin. Dr. De Luca will discuss how such an approach has been used to formulate high-yield, high-accuracy decomposition algorithms for surface EMG signals, while Dr. Roy will describe its application to the detection of motor signs of Parkinson’s disease using wearable sensors. Dr. Wagenaar will discuss how dynamic systems theory can be used to identify activity limitations and disordered coordination patters in neurologically disabled individuals. Dr. Englehart will discuss the use of advanced pattern recognition techniques to resolve the complexities of surface EMG signals in prosthetics. Finally, Dr. Meltzner will discuss how the complexities of sEMG signals associated with speech production can be addressed using advanced signal processing methods.

Title:

Towards understanding neurons’ language: from micro-processing to macro-analyzing brain recordings.

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Prof. Konstantina S. Nikita (National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.)

Dr. Konstantinos P. Michmizos (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA and National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.)

Room: Salons CD
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Most of the brain functions are not unitary processes; there is no single mechanism of a process in the brain. Instead, there are distinct kinds of functions that depend on distinct brain regions. The electrical signals that flow through synapses as neurons process information can be recorded with a reliable and accurate way. Neural recording studies have enabled the development of detailed state-of-the-art models aspiring to approximate the complex dynamics underlying the physics and mechanisms of problems, ranging from the description of the behavior of certain neural tissues such as the cerebral neocortex, the cortical and thalamic, the CA3 hippocampal to visual hallucinations, phase transitions in human hand movements and working memory mechanisms and from neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease and epilepsy dynamics to therapeutic surgical procedures such as deep-brain stimulation process. In this session, concrete examples will be presented, from various fields of brain research, where algorithms and methodologies for computationally intelligent data mining and processing are exploited, towards better understanding of human brain function and systematic design of more efficient treatments.

Title:

Causality in Brain Dynamics and Cardiovascular Control

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Luca Faes (Department of Physics, University of Trento, Italy)

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The study of causality in physiological systems is nowadays one of the hottest topics among those covering the processing of biomedical signals. Causality is commonly evaluated in order to characterize directional interactions among multiple time series simultaneously collected from a given physiological system. Applications of this approach are ubiquitous in the study of brain dynamics and cardiovascular control, favouring both the understanding of underlying mechanisms and the development of indexes for the assessment of mechanism impairment in pathological conditions.
In recent years, a large number of signal processing methods have been developed to quantify causal interactions among multiple time series, ranging from linear parametric models operating in the frequency domain to techniques taken from the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems. In front of the continuously increasing utilization of these approaches in neurophysiology and cardiovascular physiology, several methodological as well as practical issues are still debated, leaving the door open to innovative works aiming to increase the impact of this subject on compelling biomedical problems.
In this invited session, leading experts in the development of innovative techniques for the detection of causality will present original state-of-the-art reviews in this rapidly growing and fascinating topic. Presentations will be balanced in the session between studies of brain dynamics and cardiovascular control, with two speakers (Prof. Ding and Dr. Schelter) describing applications to neurophysiology, two speakers (Prof. Porta and Dr. Wessel) describing applications to cardiovascular physiology, and two speakers describing methodological implementations for interdisciplinary applications (Prof. Baccalà and Dr. Faes).

Title:

Cognitive State Assessment Competition 2011

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Justin R. Estepp (Air Force Research Laboratory)

Room: Salons CD
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Title:

Novel Time Series Analysis Approaches to Heart Rate Variability Complex Dynamics

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Zbigniew R. Struzik (Graduate School of Education, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

For nearly three decades, human heart rate variability (HRV) has been consistently shown to display intriguing and puzzling characteristics, to a large degree defying satisfactory explanation and posing challenges for both modeling and clinical treatment.  
Recent findings confirm that the HRV regulatory system represents a prominent example of a biological complex system and remains a benchmark of biocomplexity.

Continued theoretical and experimental effort is required to achieve a thorough understanding of this system’s complexity. From the point of view of control engineering, such an understanding should be capable of explaining regulatory mechanisms. With a physics approach, it should reveal striking properties of universality. From a clinical perspective, it should demonstrate the utility of prognostic and predictive algorithms.
 
The object of the proposed invited session is to advance the state of the art by providing an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of the most recent findings among leading researchers specializing in various aspects of HRV signal processing. Despite the apparent specialization, the scope of the session is great. It will include: 1) a novel algorithm for the detection of sleep apnea, by Dr. Junichiro Hayano; 2) the most up-to-date multi-time and multiscale evaluation of non-Gaussian properties of HRV, by Dr. Ken Kiyono, 3) an application of novel time series modeling methodology for early asphyxia detection during labor, by Dr. Hannes Helgason; 4) recent applications of methodologies originating in statistical physics of complex phenomena, by Dr. Chung-Kang Peng; 5) a nonlinear dynamics perspective on heart rate modeling and analysis, by Dr. Teodor Buchner; 6) an update on the approach to autoregressive modeling of the HRV point process, by Dr. Riccardo Barbieri. (Reserve speaker: 7) Dr. Akifumi Kishi, will provide an update on his work on the dynamics of switching transitions as applied to sleep stages, with potential application to the symbolic representation of heart rate.)

Title:

Cardiovascular signal processing & modeling: intraoperative haemodynamic monitoring

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Sergio Cerutti (Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano)

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

One of the main challenges faced by anesthesiologists during major surgery is ensuring hemodynamic stability of patients and preventing potentially catastrophic episodes of instability and hypotension, which may jeopardize a correct perfusion of vital organs, hence reducing survival chances and/or increasing the need for perioperative care.
While high-risk surgery patients tend to be heavily instrumented in order to closely monitor their vital signs, technical issues often hamper the recording of these data for offline analysis and/or the implementation of software packages for their online, real-time processing. To date, systematic, in-depth analyses of the alterations in haemodynamics and cardiovascular control which may arise because of anesthesia, mechanical ventilation and surgical maneuvers have yet to be performed. For similar reasons, the use of mathematical approaches based on cardiovascular signal processing and modeling for the quantification, prediction and prevention of such issues has been largely limited to animal experiments.
The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of state-of-the-art cardiovascular signal processing and modeling techniques for the assessment of autonomic and non neural control of circulation in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated patients, for the quantitative estimation of vital parameters such as cardiac output and total peripheral resistance, and for the introduction of predictive methods aimed at supporting anesthesiologists in preventing the insurgence of hemodynamic instability and hypotensive episodes.
The session will propose presentations of methodological concepts applied to the description of the hemodynamic status of patients undergoing major surgery, including vascular and cardiac surgery. Contributions from physicians, medical physicists and biomedical engineers will be included in the papers, providing a strong multidisciplinarity aimed at encouraging participation by a broad audience of academic researchers, healthcare specialists and industrial researchers as well.

Title:

Xray microscope imaging of biomolecules

5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Lee Makowski (ECE Department, Northeastern University)

Room: Salon F-G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

X-ray microscopy is undergoing a remarkable transformation that will accelerate as next-generation sources come on line over the next few years. A number of imaging modalities show great promise as probes of biological systems at length scales that span from molecule to organism. Combined with advanced methods of image processing, they can provide information that is inaccessible by other techniques. In this minisymposium we will hear presentations describing phase-contrast imaging; coherent diffraction imaging; and x-ray fluorescence microscopy.

Title:

Advances in Neural Signal Recording, Processing, and Neurostimulation

12:08 am - 12:09 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Ali Shoeb (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts General Hospital)

Room: Salons AB
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

In this mini-symposium, three speakers will discuss the latest trends and research in neural signal recording, processing, and neurostimulation.

More specifically, the first speaker will be encouraged to discuss how recording human, intracranial neural signals with finer spatial resolution than signals recorded using standard clinical practice is being used to understand the dynamics of epileptic seizures.

The second speaker will be encouraged to discuss the algorithmic approaches used to process these large data sets of neural signals.

The third speaker will be encouraged to discuss the latest trends in neurostimulation. Two companies (Medtronic and Neuropace) have completed randomized controlled trials of intracranial, neurostimulators for treating epileptic seizures. A speaker from the company will be asked to describe the technology, and how it may be improved in the future using the algorithms and recording techniques discussed in talks 1 and 2.

Title:

Nonlinear biomedical signal processing: advances and challenges in monitoring

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Signorini Maria G (Politecnico di Milano, Dept of Bioengineering)

Room: Salon E
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The MS focus is to introduce Nonlinear signal processing techniques that have found applications in monitoring approaches increasing their diagnostic and clinical ability.
Usefulness and diagnostic power of NL parameters will be underlined and discussed based on 2 presentation related to monitoring fetal and maternal status during pregnancy and cardiovascular disease patients as examples of possible advances as well as possible problems.
Critical aspects and reliability of the NL signal processing approach will be discussed.

Title:

Modeling and Analysis of Human Dynamics

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Yoshiharu Yamamoto (University of Tokyo)

Room: Salon F
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

In this mini-symposium, we define human dynamics as behavioral patterns underlying data that can now be monitored rather easily under ambient information environment such as human motion, activity and motility, behavioral logs and transaction records, etc. These data are quite complex because they are obtained under daily routines, and have not been rigorously analyzed as biomedical signals. Yet, recent studies using high resolution and/or large scale data have pointed towards the existence of hidden dynamical patterns behind the human dynamics, which have potential applicability to health sciences such as studying organization of health-related human (epidemiological) behaviors and alterations in motion/activity measured objectively for diagnoses of psychiatric disorders. In other words, human dynamics research may provide an opportunity for biomedical engineering to deal with such unexplored issues with bio-psycho-social interactions. This mini-symposium aims at discussing how to analyze and understand the human dynamics, i.e., what we believe novel biomedical signals.

Title:

Development of Sleep and Respiratory analysis systems using reference data sets from databases of physiological signals; Physionet (US) and Siesta (EU) as examples.

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Ron Leder (UNAM, Mexico City)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Reference data sets from annotated data bases of expert-scored physiological signals have played a key role in the development of systems for computer analysis of physiological signals. These signals include ECG, and Sleep related measures such as EEG, ventilation indicators, and snoring. The annotated MIT/BIH ECG database was the defacto standard against which ECG scoring algorithms were tested. The popularity and success of this model expanded to a database of sleep recordings. Now as the NIH supported physionet more expert-annotated physiologic data are available for use in development of computer based diagnostic systems. The trend expanded to the development of a European database for sleep signals SIESTA, and could be used for automated breath sound and snoring analysis.
Similar to the way implantable ICD’s try to detect shockable heart rhythms, nasal CPAP machines are vigilant for obstructive sleep apnea and adjust automatically.
We would like to present a history and examples of how these resources have helped the development of computer-based diagnosis and treatment systems. We would also like ot present a view toward the future.

In addition NIH (and others) support other research resources that can be useful for medical instrumentation and device development; we may be able to also highlight and explain some of the resources available for biomedical engineering.

(We request EMBC coordination to propose that NIH support this activity at EMBC)

Title:

How Smart Homes and AAL can be used to improve Quality of Life

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Vicente Traver (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia)

Room: Arlington
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Marco Aiello, PhD - University of Grononigen
2. Oliver Amft, PhD - TU Eindhoven
3. Michael S. Belshaw, PhD - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
4. Enrique Dorronzoro, PhD - Sevilla University
5. Sergio Guillén, PhD - TSB, Valencia
6. Norbert Noury, PhD - University Claude Bernard Lyon

Abstract

The invited session will bring together specialist from different perspectives regarding Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). Therefore, they will be focused on the new AAL paradigms in a pragmatic way, showing how AAL and Smart Homes can improve quality of life. Special attention will be paid to how all the elements are integrated within the citizen ecosystem and how the citizen interacts. This a great chance to realize about how can all these possible home care services are defined, analyze and simulated if needed, allowing context awareness in real time conditions.

Title:

CLOSING THE LOOP IN PHS TELEMONITORING SYSTEMS : HOW FAR HAVE WE GONE?

12:08 am - 12:09 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Nicos Maglaveras (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Room: Salon JK
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

AIM : To highlight the newest developments in the implementation of closed-loop personal health systems and their impact in telemonitoring and telemedicine services for chronic disease patients (such as cardiovascular and diabetic patients) as well as identify possible intervention issues related to clinical guidelines. Both the professional and patient rules are addressed, the accompanying multi-sensor and new sensor prototypes and BANs, intelligent ways to verify and expand the capabilities of the closed loop system and communicate with the patient are discussed. Further, we discuss intelligent information processing usually from multiparametric sources as well as issues related with data mining and quality.

Title:

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGIES FOR AAL, EINCLUSION, AND PHEALTH – THE ROAD AHEAD

12:11 am - 12:12 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Nicos Maglaveras (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Room: Salon JK
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

AIM : To highlight the newest developments in the development of closed-loop personal health systems and their impact in telemonitoring and telemedicine for diseases using both implants and wearable sensors, as well as behavioral and Patient Guidance Systems. Information processing and data/semantics interoperability shall be also addressed and links with clinical guidelines shall be addressed. New technology from implantable sensors to sweat analysis sensors and integrated systems for service provision shall be addressed. This can serve as a future bridge between Personal Health Systems and Ambient Assisted Living.

Title:

Home Based Systems for Telerehabilitation

12:13 am - 12:14 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Emily Keshner (Temple University)

Room: Salon JK
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

A number of novel, low-cost, real-time adaptive multimedia environments for home-based rehabilitation are currently being developed. The primary goals of these systems are to provide an interactive tool with which the individual can sustain gains achieved within the clinical phase of therapy and increase the opportunity for functional recovery. Most systems are designed to continue active learning by reducing dependency on real-time feedback and focusing on summary feedback after a single task and sequences of tasks. This session will be focused on presenting the results of some of these systems with patient populations and discussion of their strengths and weaknesses. The speakers will discuss the design principles of their system and preliminary results from its implementation.

Title:

Advances in eHealth: From Chronic Conditions to Real-Time Emergency Response

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Constantinos S. Pattichis (Dep. Computer Science, University of Cyprus)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

This session targets to give a snapshot of emerging eHealth technologies for disease and wellness monitoring.

Title:

Recent Developments in Mhealth

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Sergio Guillen (ITACA Technology Centre)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

This invited session will present a broad vision of the research in Europe and Asia in m.health and personal health systems for primary pevention and wellbeing, chronic disase management, co-production of health and patient/citizen education, motivation and support.

Title:

Data Mining, Information Processing, and Decision Support Systems

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Dimitrios I. Fotiadis (Unit of Medical Technology and Intelligent Information Systems, Dept of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Title:

Data Mining, Information Processing and Decision Support Systems II

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Noah Pepper (Qmedtrix)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Title:

Health Informatics: eHealth Solutions for Cardiovascular Risk Screening

12:08 am - 12:09 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Carmen C. Y. Poon (The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong)

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The proposed mini-symposium is co-organised by Carmen C. Y. Poon, The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong (cpoon@ee.cuhk.edu.hk) and Prof. Constantinos S. Pattichis, Univ. of Cyprus (pattichi@ucy.ac.cy). It now has 7 confirmed speakers and a couple more to be confirmed. If possible, the organisers would like to arrange a 2-session Mini-symposium on the same day (1 session in the morning and 1 in the afternoon). A call-for-papers on this topic will also been launched on the IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in BioMedicine.

Details of the proposed mini-symposium are as follows:

===========================


Abstract:

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Treatment is a major financial burden to health services and effective prevention has now become a priority. Traditional methods of risk assessment for premature heart attacks and strokes using conventional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and blood cholesterol to express the risk of CV deaths as a 10 year Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or PROCAM Risk Score (depending on the equation used) have produced moderate results.

Screening and improved selection of individuals for more effective prevention is now possible because of the following: (a) preclinical (silent) atherosclerotic plaques develop slowly over several decades before they rupture or obstruct an artery becoming clinically manifest, (b) screening methods are now available for detecting the presence and severity of such plaques and (c) current prophylaxis with aggressive risk factor modification can reduce morbidity and mortality from heart attacks and strokes by 50%.

Methods currently available for cardiovascular risk screening such as (a) measurement of ankle brachial index (ABI), (b) coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) using multislice CT-scanning known as Electron Beam Tomography (EBT) and (c) ultrasonic arterial scanning, provide additional information that can improve the FRS to a certain extent, or cardiovascular screening at large.

The objective of this mini-symposium is to provide a snapshot of emerging intelligent monitoring frameworks for CV risk screening. A call-for-papers on this topic has also been launched on the IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in BioMedicine (http://bme.ee.cuhk.edu.hk/TITB/calls4paper.html) at the same time.

Title:

Telemedicine and Interoperability - improved care for Wounded Warriors

12:17 am - 12:17 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Sean Kennedy (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Traveling to and from the doctor can be a time consuming and stressful endeavor - an effort made more stressful when asked to bring your medical records. Now layer on personal bouts with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury from service in Iraq or Afghanistan and the exercise of getting to the doctor takes on a new level of stress, prompting anxiety, frustration and, frequently, anger. Now envision the alternative - sitting at home and dialing into your doctor - a doctor who is informed with your full medical history.

This is the work being tackled by the Red Sox Foundation/Massachusetts General's Home Base Program. Frequently, veterans presenting to Home Base providers have had care while on active duty or after their service in the Veterans Administration. In both cases, a medical record may exist for them. Currently, access to these medical records is a cumbersome, inconsistent process that is time-consuming for veterans and their family members as well as clinicians and staff at Home Base and the VA, and frequently results in delayed (or rescheduled) appointments, evaluations and initiation of care. Our solution leverages advancements in interactive video technology and evolving standards for the exchange of health information between electronic medical records. Our approach allows patients the comfort of care in their home treated by doctors with a comprehensive view of their medical information.

In coordination with the Department of Defense, the VA and New England’s regional health information exchange, Mass General provides care to our veteran patients and support to their families via a variety of modalities. Among the newest include novel telemedicine approaches for behavioral health therapy and rehab. Sessions may simulate a face-to-face encounter or incorporate a larger group. Anticipated outcomes include: more rapid access to care, reduced delay to initial diagnosis, and improved patient and provider satisfaction.

Title:

Rethinking health – ICT enabled services for people to be responsible for their health

8:00 am - 9:15 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Niilo Saranummi (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Lifestyle is a key determinant in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. If we would exercise regularly, eat healthy, control our weight, sleep enough, manage stress, not smoke and use alcohol only moderately, 90 % of type II diabetes, 80 % of coronary heart disease, and 70 % of stroke and colon cancer could be prevented. We also know that in Europe disorders related to lifestyle cause 77 % of the disease burden. Global health statistics provide further evidence that health promotion campaigns and healthcare have failed to persuade people to change and manage their lifestyles. A disruptive solution to this “tsunami” of chronic conditions is needed to radically improve people’s abilities to manage their health.

The mini-symposium presents and discusses a research agenda for a solution, which has been developed by a European team of experts in an EU-funded road mapping project in 2010. The resulting research agenda comprises a three tiered integrated approach (available at www.preve-eu.org). The first tier deals with personalized ICT enabled services that help people to have the “response ability”, i.e. services that engineer awareness and motivation, support decision making with contextual information, reminders and alerts and mediate interactions with surrounding actors. The second tier deals with sustainable business ecosystems of users, application providers, IT service providers, co-producers, and other stakeholders with appropriate rules of the game. The third tier deals with policy setting, regulations and incentives that encourage healthy behaviors.

This disruptive vision will be presented by the project team from different viewpoints. The objective of the session is to interactively share and discuss the research agenda with the participants and to contribute towards the creation of a community interested in pursuing research in this domain.

Title:

Reliable and trustworthy physiological signal monitoring in daily-life

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Julien Penders (imec)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Achieving reliable and trustworthy monitoring of physiological data on-the-move is crucial for the broad adoption of mobile and wearable health solutions in daily life settings. In the case of bio-potential recordings, in particular, signals easily get contaminated by electrode and motion artifacts. The situation becomes even more challenging as long-term monitoring using wearable devices call for the use of dry electrodes, or the integration into textile. Reducing artifacts takes an integrated approach, including understanding and modeling of the skin-electrode interface, electrode design, mixed-signal circuit design, signal processing techniques, and finally integration into robust systems.
This mini-symposium will review the latest advances in the key areas necessary to achieve reliable and trustworthy physiological monitoring. Latest developments in circuit design for monitoring and reduction of motion artifact will be discussed. In particular, results using electrode-tissue impedance monitoring for artifact reduction will be presented. Then innovation in algorithms and system design for reliable wearable health monitoring will be presented. The potential and challenges of smart textiles in this context will be reviewed. Finally, the applications and incentives motivating such technology improvements will be discussed.
The symposium will be given by world-leading experts in the field. The symposium will consist of four talks of 15min each, and will be followed by an interactive panel discussion during which the audience will have the opportunity to interact with the experts, and share their experience. This session will leave the participants with a review of the latest developments towards reliable monitoring in daily life environments, and confront them to look at the problem as a whole.

Title:

Personal health systems and mHealth – horizons towards 2015

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Ilkka Korhonen (Tampere University of Technology)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Personal Health Systems (PHS) extend telemedicine and eHealth towards citizens enabling them to become active players in their health and care management. The potential of PHS is highest in domains where behavioral factors and treatment adherence are key factors for successful outcomes - in chronic disease management and prevention and health promotion. PHS extends traditional telemedicine solutions towards consumers in chronic disease management while in health promotion and disease prevention the approach is often extending consumer electronics into wellbeing and health management. mHealth is a good example of this development. Traditional mHealth has focused on delivering chronic disease management with mobile technologies. In last few years, a smart phone enabled new mHealth market model has emerged rapidly, spanning consumer applications targeted to health and wellness of its users. Currently, there are close to 20.000 mHealth applications available for smart phones in different application stores, and this market is expected to generate $6B revenues by 2015, with 500 million downloaded a mHealth applications.

The mini-symposium presents a state-of-the-art review on PHS development and discusses two different angles of arrival to the market: professional driven extension from telemedicine vs. consumer driven PHS. Special attention is on mHealth developments. World leading speakers from industry and providers will shed light on current technological developments, level and necessity of proof of impact of PHS on chronic disease management and prevention, and health promotion, and give predictions of developments by 2015.

The symposium will consist of four talks of 15 min each, and will be followed by an interactive panel discussion during which the audience will have the opportunity to interact with the experts, and share their experience. The session will give the participants a an up to date view of the latest developments towards mobile health targeted for consumers for their personal use in a collaborative health care model.

Title:

Health Informatics: Ehealth Solutions for Cardiovascular Risk Screening II

5:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Carmen C. Y. Poon (The Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong)

Room: Salon JK
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Treatment is a major financial burden to health services and effective prevention has now become a priority. Traditional methods of risk assessment for premature heart attacks and strokes using conventional risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and blood cholesterol to express the risk of CV deaths as a 10 year Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or PROCAM Risk Score (depending on the equation used) have produced moderate results.

Screening and improved selection of individuals for more effective prevention is now possible because of the following: (a) preclinical (silent) atherosclerotic plaques develop slowly over several decades before they rupture or obstruct an artery becoming clinically manifest, (b) screening methods are now available for detecting the presence and severity of such plaques and (c) current prophylaxis with aggressive risk factor modification can reduce morbidity and mortality from heart attacks and strokes by 50%.

Methods currently available for cardiovascular risk screening such as (a) measurement of ankle brachial index (ABI), (b) coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) using multislice CT-scanning known as Electron Beam Tomography (EBT) and (c) ultrasonic arterial scanning, provide additional information that can improve the FRS to a certain extent, or cardiovascular screening at large.

The objective of this mini-symposium is to provide a snapshot of emerging intelligent monitoring frameworks for CV risk screening. A call-for-papers on this topic has also been launched on the IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in BioMedicine (http://bme.ee.cuhk.edu.hk/TITB/calls4paper.html) at the same time.

Title:

Social impact and sustainble research for Biosignals and Biorobotics

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Dinesh Kant Kumar, PhD (RMIT University )

Martha Zequera Diaz, PhD (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)

Room: Fairfield
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. S Arjunan, PhD - RMIT University
2. Rezaul Begg, PhD - RMIT University
3. Dinesh Kant Kumar, PhD - RMIT University
4. E Piragova, PhD - RMIT University
5. E Saunders, PhD - RMIT University

Abstract

Medical devices and research has headed to become the exclusive domain of the healthy societies, and leading to an unequal distribution of the health outcomes. The devices are designed for being located where the infrastructure such as electricity, buildings and telecommunication is robust and clean. However, the majority of the world does not live in these conditions, and there is an urgent need to think beyond the 10% of the global population. This requires urgent research, where the devices are reliable and robust, even in the most challenging situations, and are adaptable for new demographics. This workshop will open this topic for discussions and seek people with ideas to join in.

Title:

Impact of Wirless Health on Proactive Loss Controll and Wellness Strategies

11:15 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Mary Rose Reaston Ph.D. (Insight Diagnostics Inc.)

Adam Seidner, M.D., M.P.H (Travelers)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that despite an overall decrease in workers compensation claims, indemnity & medical costs as well as lost days from work have continued to rise. Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)account for 80 percent of these costs. OSHA Defines an MSD as: “Disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. Wireless technology will play an important role in prevention and diagnosing these injuries. In fact, today’s escalating medical costs and ever changing legal and regulatory environment necessitate proactive loss control and wellness strategies. This session will identify techniques and tools to provide you with new ideas that can help you proactively prevent and manage MSD cases to include: technology assessment and commercialization, risk and loss control optimization and soft tissue diagnostics and prevention.

Title:

Biomedical Engineering Education – Mobility, Harmonization, Innovation.

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Chair Ratko Magjarevic, Ph.D (University of Zagreb, Croatia)

Martha Lucía Zequera Díaz, Ph.D (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

This invited session will focus on current developments in biomedical engineering education around the world and shall present the views of experts on the importance of increased student and teachers mobility due to international exchange programs, discuss the need for BME program harmonization and mutual recognition of learning outcomes, having in mind the growing labor market for the profession. The aim of the proposal is to motivate the presenting experts to address students’ involvement in BME research and innovative components of BME applications in health care. The special session will comprise of six invited lectures (15 min each) from leading experts in their respective areas. The session shall be scheduled in a 90 minute time slot during the conference.

Title:

Researchers and Companies Involved in innovation of Biomedical Devices

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Maria Teresa Arredondo Waldmeyer (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain))

Teodiano Freire Bastos (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Brazil))

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Biomedical Engineering is the discipline of applying the quantitative and computational methods of Engineering to problems in Medicine, Biology and Health, in order to help improve patient health care and the quality of life of individuals. It is currently one of the most rapidly growing fields of Engineering all over the world. Nowadays, a new era of Biomedical Engineering, research, and development is beginning. As the technology on health care becomes more important, the role of the Biomedical Engineer will turn to be more crucial for the society. The Biomedical Engineer will be a key element fundamentally in three different sectors: the health care technology industry, the health care administration and the health care provision institutions. Innovation in health care technologies will continue being paramount, not only in the advances of Medicine and in the self health management of patients but also in allowing the sustainability of the public health care system. Real commercial outcomes are then necessary towards realizing the aim of using Biomedical Engineering developments towards improving quality of human life. We examine some of the issues, including the opportunities, challenges and pitfalls towards this exercise. We conclude with the need for Government involvement at the policy level, while encouraging the industry and companies to be financially viable in an open market style without biasing the outcomes. Thus, this Minisymposium will deal with how the researchers in Biomedical Engineering work in order to see their developments “off the shelf”. Patents and interaction University-Company will be also discussed.

Title:

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Regulatory Issues and Commercialization

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Dieter Haemmerich (Medical University of South Carolina)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The rapid growth in development and deployment of medical devices in the past decades has been fueled by efforts in both industry and academia. Nevertheless, often research in academia does not find its way towards commercialization due to a number of different hurdles. In this symposium the relationship between academia and industry related to development and commercialization of medical devices will be discussed from both viewpoints. Differences in culture, issues related to intellectual property and licensing, and suggestions for furthering collaboration between the two entities will be presented. Prominent members from major universities and medical device companies will present their viewpoint on these issues.

Title:

Clinical Image Analysis: Challenges, Techniques and Opportunities

9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Metin N. Gurcan, Ph.D. (Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Metin N. Gurcan, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University
2. Murat Dundarm Ph.D., IUPUI

Abstract

Clinical image processing and analysis requires coordinated efforts of medical professionals, algorithmic and software engineers, and statisticians. Basic image processing techniques are frequently used in every aspect of the development from initial pre-processing techniques for noise reduction, segmentation of lesions, to registration of lesions. Recent advances in hardware and software have made it possible to create digital scans of whole slides. These images are relatively large (100k x 100k) and in color, hence processing them present new challenges. Similarly, radiological imaging scanners produce thousands of slices of images. The processing need for these images are enormous.

Although clinical image analysis research is getting increasingly popular, it does not receive sufficient coverage in most curriculums. This tutorial will introduce the current challenges, recent advances and innovations in clinical image analysis area while reviewing several frequently used image-processing techniques in this context. It will be taught from the perspective of a researcher, who carried out clinical image analysis and processing research for over 15 years both in academy and industry.

This tutorial is continuation of a series of tutorials Dr. Gurcan presented at IEEE ICIP 2006 in Atlanta, GA, IEEE ICIP 2008 in San Diego, CA and IEEE ICASSP 2010 in Dallas, TX. This tutorial was designed as a course on new and exciting developments in processing clinical images including but not limited to radiology and pathology. It is self-contained and taking this tutorial does not require attending the previously taught ones.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand how clinical images are created and challenges in processing these images
2. Review and understand commonly used image processing algorithms and how they should be adopted for clinical image processing
3. Review and understand novel software architectures to process large-scale clinical images

Description of material to be distributed to participants:

1. Lecture notes and copies of the PowerPoint slides
2. Sample code used in the presentation (print-outs will be provided with the lecture notes, electronic version will be e-mailed to the attendees)
3. Annotated list of references

Title:

X-ray Computed Tomography: Principles, Applications, and Future Directions

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Rajiv Gupta, PhD, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

Abstract

This tutorial will cover the following topics.

1. Fundamental principles of computed tomography: The entire imaging chain and all major components and recon algorithms will be described.
2. Applications of CT as a problem solving tool.
3. Future direction:




• Dual Souce and Dual Energy CT
• Cardiac CT
• Flat-panel and Cone-beam CT
• CT-guided Interventions

Title:

Ocular Image Processing and Ocular Disease Diagnosis

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Cuntai Guan (Institute for Infocomm Research, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore)

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The automated analysis and quantification of morphometric and clinical parameters of the retina from digital images is attracting increasing amounts of research. Reliable estimation of such properties via automatic and semi-automatic software tools finds application in clinical, cognitive and genetic studies. This session includes a series of invited talks showcasing cutting-edge research from leading groups engaged in key challenges like detection and characterization of signs of retinal pathologies, especially glaucoma, diabetes and age-related macular degeneration, the world's major causes of blindness, as well as the design of usable software tools enabling efficient analysis of large volumes of images for correlational investigative studies in an array of disciplines.

Title:

Imaging and Computation in Clinical Electrocardiology

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Dana Brooks (Northeastern University )

Robert MacLeod (University of Utah )

Room: Berkeley
Floor 3, Marriott

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Ravi Ranjan, MD PhD - University of Utah
2. Petr Stovicek, MD PhD - Charles University Hospital
3. John Triedman, MD - Harvard Medical School

Abstract

Investigators have been conducting research on the use of imaging and computation in electrocardiology for many years. However until fairly recently the impact of advances in this area on clinical practice has been minimal except in a few specialized areas. In contrast, recent research progress, combined with improvements in imaging and computational technology itself, have begun to result in many exciting possibilities for clinical application of research results. In particular the combination of imaging and computation is enabling dramatic expansion of the concept of "personalized medicine" beyond the world of genomics by enabling patient-specific modeling and simulation. This minisymposium will focus on both progress and challenges in three distinct clinical applications of imaging and computational research, from the points of view of three presenters who are each clinicians who are active in both clinical practice and research.

Title:

Brain Tissue and Tumor Segmentation

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Khan M. Iftekharuddin (University of Memphis)

Room: Salon G
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

Mini-symposium Title: Brain tissue and tumor segmentation

Mini-symposium co-chairs: Khan Iftekharudidn and Christos Davatzikos

Brain tissue and tumor segmentation in MR images has been an active research area. Due to complex structures of different tissues such as the gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the MR brain images, extraction of useful features is a challenging task. There have been considerable amount of works in discriminating tumor from non-tumor tissues in brain images such as MRI. For brain tumor segmentation, both feature and atlas based techniques are common. Atlas-based segmentation can be considered as a registration problem in which a fully labeled, template MR volume is registered to an unknown dataset. A one-to-one correspondence between the template and subject images is achieved through high-dimensional warping. On the other hand, extraction of good features is fundamental to successful image segmentation. Variability in tumor location, shape, size and texture properties further complicates the search for robust features. The segmentation of tumor in multimodality brain images, therefore, remains a challenging task due to tumor location, shape, size and texture properties. One of the critical challenges involves development of patient-independent brain tissue and tumor segmentation and prediction scheme. To achieve this goal, one needs to obtain representative features that can effectively discriminate tumor regions in MRIs from non-tumors. Further, the features of the corresponding regions must be consistent across the patients.

The primary goal of this mini symposium is to bring together a few of leading experts in brain and tumor tissue segmentation focus area and to discuss the current state of art as well as the future challenges. A few of the proposed speakers include Ron Kikinis, Guido Gerig, Christos Davatzikos and others.

Title:

Implantable/Wearable Biomedical Circuits and Systems

8:00 am - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Sameer Sonkusale (Tufts University)

Maysam Ghovanloo (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Pedram Mohseni (Case Western Reserve University)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Sameer Sonkusale, Tufts University
2. Maysam Ghovanloo, Georgia Institute of Technology
3. Pedram Mohseni, Case Western Reserve University

Abstract

This tutorial will address a growing area of integrated circuits in the context of emerging biomedical applications. Exciting new opportunities exist in the area of wearable sensors, biomedical implants and portable medical instrumentation for low-cost point-of-care healthcare. These applications often place unique requirements on constituent electronic circuits and systems in CMOS technology. Requirements range from ultralow-power operation, small form- factor, reliance on energy harvesting, and safe and secure wireless transmission. The proposed tutorial will be led by experts in the area of low-power analog front-end circuits, data converters, wireless power delivery, power management circuits and wireless transceivers to provide a comprehensive tutorial in the area of biomedical circuits and systems. The tutorial will begin with an introduction to fundamentals of low-power analog and mixed-mode circuit design, followed by a systematic step-by-step coverage of critical building blocks such as biopotential amplifier design and inductive coupling, followed by the latest architectures in emerging biomedical applications. Examples derived from practical applications such as neuroprostheses, ECG/EEG data acquisition, and transcutaneous power transmission will provide the attendees with complete circuits-to-systems-to-applications coverage.

You can find the handout for the full day tutorial here. Email the organizers to find out the password to open the file.

Title:

Biological Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (BioMEMS): Fundamentals and Applications

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Mehmet R. Dokmeci (Northeastern University )

Michelle Khine (UC Irvine)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Prof. Utkan Demirci, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA: "Biosensors and Microchips for Global Health"
2. Prof. Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA: "Implantable Biomedical Microdevices"
3. Prof. Ali Khademhosseini, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA: "Microscale Patterning for Tissue Engineering"
4. Prof. Michelle Khine, UC Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA: "Introduction to BioMEMS and Microfluidics"

Abstract

BioMicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) have seen a surge in growth and has been continuously enabling novel discoveries in Biomedical Sciences. The development of technologies at the microscale has created enabling tools and technologies that are crucial for the advances in life sciences. Specifically polymer based BioMEMS technologies including Polydimethylsilozane (PDMS) and parylene have seen unprecedented growth. This workshop will provide an overview on how to apply BioMEMS technologies to obtain new insights into biological processes that encompass processes at the molecular, cellular and tissue scales including chemotaxis and cellular forces; cell metabolism, electrophysiology and signaling; angiogenesis and metastasis; and differentiation and development. This workshop will begin with a series of lectures and invited talks outlining key aspects of the micro and nanofabrication technologies and applications of BioMEMS technologies to life sciences, and will learn specific details regarding the practical aspects of BioMEMS and sensor design, fabrication, and use for specific applications. Topics ranging from microchips for implantable devices, to biosensors and sensors for global health will also be included. The workshop will consist of a number of nationally renowned speakers, and is geared towards graduate students, research scientists, faculty and industrial participants who are interested in gaining experience in the exciting field of BioMEMS.

Title:

Wearable Sensors in Healthcare: real applications

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Alessandro Puiatti (University of Applied Science of Southern Switzerland)

Room: Salons AB
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The combination of an ageing population and the increase in chronic disease has greatly escalated health costs. It has been estimated that up to 75% of healthcare spending is on chronic disease management (mainly cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity). It is now widely recognised that there is a need to radically change the present Healthcare systems, historically based on costly hospital-centred acute care, and make them more appropriate for the continuous home-based management of chronic diseases. The goals of the new approach are the improved management of the chronic disease through encouraging lifestyle changes and the effective early detection and treatment of any problem before it necessitates costly emergency intervention.
There is therefore an urgent need of novel monitoring systems which include new sensor technologies, mobile technologies, embedded systems, wearable systems, ambient intelligence, etc. which are capable of conveniently, discreetly and robustly monitoring patients in their homes and while performing their daily activities without interfering significantly with their comfort or lifestyle.
There are many possible monitoring scenarios and it is not possible to optimally address them all with the same “wearable” technologies. It is therefore important to recognize the (present) limitations and advantages of the various approaches. Basic “Holter-type” devices are still often the best compromise for the short term monitoring of a motivated patient to diagnose his/her illness. Adhesive patches appear well suited for “victim patches” and many monitoring applications for up to one week. Sensor belts and harnesses have applications in longer term monitoring situations while truly long term monitoring awaits the successful development of totally integrated “smart garments” or implantable systems. Portable systems exist which are suitable for certain long term “on demand” applications.
In this session we present which are the main issues related to the wearable sensors systems and how they have been addressed up to now in specific healthcare applications.

Title:

Advanced Lab on Chip systems for In vitro testing

11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Andreas Lymberis (European Commission, Information Society and Media Directorate General)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The session will focus on current R&D activities and future challenges relating to integrated micro-nano-bio systems for in vitro testing. Presented topics will include biosensors, array sensors, Lab on Chip and other miniaturised systems enabling handling, testing & analysing biological samples for decision making at the point of need.

Title:

Smart Textile and Wearable Systems

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Andreas Lymberis (European Commission, Information Society and Media Directorate General)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Smart Wearable Systems are sensor-based integrated systems on body-worn platforms offering pervasive personalized solutions for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of body and external parameters, including feedback to the user. The session will focus on new developments emerging from the miniaturization of electronics and the integration of multiple smart functions into textiles, leading to new wearable systems and applications. Major aspects of the full value chain will be addressed e.g. from user requirements, to design, technology building blocks, development of integrated systems, testing/validation, market and future challenges.

Title:

In Vivo Neurotransmitter Sensing: State of the Art and Applications

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Dr. Walter Besio (Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA. )

Dr. Mike McShane (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.)

Room: Exeter
Floor 3, Marriott

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dr. Greg Gerhardt, Center for Microelectrode Technology and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
2. Dr. Robert Kennedy, Departments of Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
3. Dr. Jacob Hooker, PET Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.
4. Dr. Arnaud Muller, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
5. Dr. Mike McShane, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
6. Dr. Walter Besio, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.

Abstract

Presently there is much interest in stimulating the brain for therapeutic purposes. Various forms of stimulation are used such as: ultrasound, sound, light, chemicals, magnetic, and electrical to alter the states of the brain. While questions remain about the mechanism of action for neurotherapeutics, even less is understood about the relationship between other stimulation methods and neurotransmitter uptake and release. Great strides have been made by entering electrodes into the brain and evaluating various stimulation parameters until the desired outcome is reached. One such success has been with Parkinson's disease. However, for medical refractory epilepsy it appears that wherever the electrical stimulation is applied (vagus nerve, trigeminal nerve, anterior nuclei of thalamus, centromedian nucleus of the thalamus, cerebellum, hippocampus, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra pars reticulate among others) the results are only partially effective. This will most likely be true for other forms of brain stimulations as well.

If neurotransmitter modulation is the mechanism of action then sensing could greatly improve the efficient development of therapies. Unique tools are required to advance knowledge of this important issue. Towards this end we will review neurotransmitter sensing technology in: electrochemistry, microdialysis, positron emission tomography (PET), and fluorescence. The session will also provide an understanding of the cutting-edge technology in research now and possibly what to expect in the near future. We will also have contributions from researchers using currently available neurotransmitter sensing technologies in their research.

We expect the outcome of this special session to be a much deeper understanding of the technology used for neurotransmitter sensing. This way the audience can judge for themselves what the limitations of the techniques are and possibly contribute to the improvement. This session should also provide an introduction to engineers to a field that is more familiar to neuroscientists.

Title:

Software tools for Image Based Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization

8:15 am - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Dana Brooks, PhD (Northeastern University )

Rob MacLeod, PhD (University of Utah, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dana Brooks, PhD - Northeastern University
2. Brett Burton, BS - University of Utah
3. Burak Erem, MS - Northeastern University
4. Tom Fogal, MS - University of Utah
5. Ayla Khan, BS - University of Utah
6. Josh Levine, PhD - University of Utah
7. Robert MacLeod, PhD - University of Utah
8. Darrell Swenson, BS - University of Utah
9. Jess Tate, BS - University of Utah

Abstract

For more information, go to the workshop's webpage here.

The goal of this tutorial is to introduce participants to a suite of software tools for image-based modeling, simulation, and visualization developed by the NIH/NCRR Center for Integrative Biomedical Computing (CIBC). This portable flexible collection of interactive tools was designed in particular to support the development of subject specific, image based geometric models for simulation of bioelectric fields, but suite as well as its individual components have been applied to a wider set of problems. The tools in the suite are: ImageVis3D, for visualization of large scale data; Seg3D, for general purpose user-guided image segmentation; BioMesh3D, a set of utilities for creating surface and volume meshes from segmented image data; map3d, for visualization of surface based maps from multichannel time signals; and SCIRun, a comprehensive problem solving environment that integrates many of the capabilities of an entire image based modeling pipeline.

The tutorial will be a mix of didactic presentations on the component steps of image based modeling, simulation, and visualization; hands on practice with the software, and cases studies on real world applications.

We will provide participants with the software and test data sets and encourage participants to bring their laptop computers ,and if relevant their own data as well. CIBC staff and developers will be on hand to help participants learn the programs, port their data, and generate useful results. We especially encourage participation by students, post docs, and technical users and software developers.

Title:

Toward a Global Neuroinformatics Infrastructure

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

INCF (International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Sean Hill - "Building an informatics infrastructure for multiscale neuroscience data integration"
2. Jan Bjaalie - "Spatial data integration - an infrastructure for data driven atlasing"
3. David van Essen "The Human Connectome - an infrastructure for brain connectivity analyses"
4. Mitsuo Kawato - "Understanding the brain by building the brain: infrastructure for modeling the brain and manipulating the mind"
5. Panel discussion

Abstract

Large-scale data-intensive integrative neuroscience projects are paving the way for a next generation international neuroinformatics infrastructure. This workshop will include presentations from the leaders of large neuroscience infrastructure projects from around the world. Such integrative infrastructures will enable new insights about the structure and function of the brain in health and disease.

Title:

Computational approaches for studying neural mechanisms in anesthesia and sleep

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

ShiNung Ching (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Zhe Chen (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Room: Arlington
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

General anesthesia is the basis of modern medicine, facilitating a wide range of surgical therapies. Over one-hundred thousand patients receive general anesthesia in the United States each day. Despite its ubiquity, the mechanisms by which anesthetic drugs induce the state of general anesthesia remain mysterious. Moreover, the mechanistic relationship between anesthesia and states of natural sleep is often ambiguous. Understanding these mechanisms and relationships would have many significant implications including the design of safer drugs and improved techniques for drug-delivery, measuring anesthetic depth and suggesting new therapies for sleep disorders. One may even surmise the possibility of inducing and controlling the anesthetic or sleep-like state by making non-pharmacological perturbations to specific neuronal circuits. In addition, the study of anesthesia and sleep has the potential to offer critical insight into other areas of medical importance such as coma.

To date, attempts at engineering in anesthesia and sleep have taken a ‘black-box’ approach, using a few frequency-domain analyses and basic models to characterize the state of the entire brain. It is clear that future advancements will require a multi-faceted approach, combining new techniques for data analysis with multi-scale, biophysically-based mathematical models. This special session will bring together a diverse set of speakers and introduce new developments in both of these areas. The emphasis will be placed on both mathematical modeling and engineering solutions. The goal is to highlight how different analyses and modeling paradigms are being used to move beyond the ‘black-box’ and yield more robust and neurophysiologically complete characterizations.

Title:

Bioinformatics for Integrated Genomics

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Hsun-Hsien Chang (Childen's Hospital Boston)

Room: Arlington
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Modern microarray technologies along with bioinformatics development have revolutionized genomics. Various types of microarrays were invented to investigate genomics from different viewpoints. For instance, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays reveal mutations of single genes; comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) technology assesses genomic gains and losses; methylation specific oligonucleotide microarrays can map methylation changes in DNA; gene expression chips record transcription information contained within DNA. While these technologies have matured, the following ambitious goal is to aggregate different pieces of genomic information to outline how genetic mutations lead to aberrant methylation and transcription. The achievement of this goal will enable us to understand the detailed formation of human diseases.

The obstacle to integrated genomics is the efficient and effective analysis of large amount of genomic data. Microarray technologies nowadays can genotype 500k SNPs, profile expression of 50k genes, and assess methylation of 22k nucleotides. Inferring detailed biological mechanisms between SNPs and genes requires novel statistics to precisely identify active SNPs and genes involved in the mechanisms, followed by effective models capturing the SNP-gene interaction. Furthermore, the large number of SNPs and genes compounds the computational burden. As a result, we need new bioinformatics tools to systematically integrate multimodal genomic data.

The proposed special session in EMBC 2011 will bring 4 speakers to present the state-of-the-art bioinformatics for integrated genomics studies. All speakers had solid training in both biomedicine and quantitative analysis, and have been devoted to biomedical research for at least 10 years. Their recent works are involved in integration of multimodal genomic data. Their presentations will let the audience learn how the modern computing techniques assist biomedical studies.

Title:

Systems in Synthetic Biology (Part I)

9:30 am - 11:00 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Ron Weiss (MIT)

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Ron Weiss - Synthetic Biology: From Parts to Modules to Therapeutic Systems
2. Pamela A. Silver - Designing Biological Systems for Therapeutics and Sustainability
3. Bruce Tidor - Synthetic Design of Molecular Therapeutics with Multifactorial Systems Goals

Abstract

Synthetic biology aims to establish a constructive engineering technology using the materials of molecular and cellular biology, with the capability of helping understand natural biological systems as well as re-engineering new ones. Inspired by more mature engineering fields, the resulting framework is intended to be modular, composable, and robust. Basic genetic parts are assembled into devices and modules, and these in turn are assembled into larger systems. A variety of tools, including computational design methodologies and evolutionary biology strategies are being adapted for this goal. The talks in this minisymposium will describe progress to date on the development of tools, engineering strategies, and experimental systems in the context of a wide range of applications that includes sensors and effectors, engineered bacterial pathways for enhanced metabolic production, re-wired signaling pathways, organisms with re-engineered genetic codes, genetically programmed therapies, and cellular communication systems.

Title:

Systems in Synthetic Biology (Part II)

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Reshma Shetty - Making Biology Easier to Engineer
2. Jacob Beal - Toward Breaking the Complexity Barrier for Synthetic Biology Therapeutics

Abstract

Title:

Systems in Synthetic Biology (Part III)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. David McMillen - Integral Feedback Control in a Synthetic Gene Network
2. Michael T. Laub - Using Evolution to Guide the Rewiring of Two-Component Signal
3. Transduction Systems
4. Kristala Jones Prather - Rational Design of Microbial Chemical Factories

Abstract

Title:

Systems Models in Biology (Part I)

3:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Mark Transtrum - Sloppy Models, Information Geometry, and Data Fitting
2. David Hagen - Optimal Experimental Design for Model Identification in Systems Biology
3. Bree Aldridge - Multi-Factorial Analysis of Receptor-Mediated Apoptosis

Abstract

Title:

Systems in Synthetic Biology (Part IV)

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Peter Carr - Engineering Microbial Genomes with MAGE: New Genetic Codes
2. George Church - Integration of Instrumental, Computational, Molecular, Organismal & Ecological Engineering
3. Jared Toettcher - A Light-Based Feedback Controller for Generating User-Defined Intracellular Signaling Dynamics

Abstract

Title:

Systems Models in Biology (Part II)

9:30 am - 11:00 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Debasis Barik - Stochastic Model of Cell Cycle Regulation in Budding Yeast
2. Tina Toni - Computational Design for Synthetic Biology
3. Bo Kim - Robust Protocol Design for Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Title:

Systems Models in Biology (Part III)

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Elebeoba May - Investigating the Metabolic Dynamics of Pathogenic Organisms Using BioXyce
2. David Amsallem - An Open, Flexible Device Model Specification Framework with Applications to Neuron Modeling

Abstract

Title:

Systems Biology Data Modeling (Part I)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. David de Graaf - Patient Stratification for Efficacy and Safety As Building Blocks for Personalized Medicine
2. Ernest Fraenkel - Using Network Algorithms to Integrate 'Omic’ Data and Reveal Disease Mechanisms
3. Marc Vidal - Interactome Networks and Human Disease

Abstract

Title:

Systems Biology Data Modeling (Part II)

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Forest White (MIT)

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Douglas Lauffenburger - Cue-Signal-Response Analysis in Vivo
2. Michael Yaffe - Integration of Growth Factor, MAP Kinase, and DNA Damage Signaling Networks
3. Forest White - Biological Insight from Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Signaling Networks

Abstract

Developments in analytical technologies for biology over the past two decades have now made the acquisition of large, complex, data sets fairly routine. Transcriptional profiling, either through cDNA microarrays or by next-generation sequencers, provides a quantitative profile of genetic regulatory circuitry, with the ability to analyze many samples in any given day, on a single instrument. Similarly, proteomic analysis of protein expression or post-translational modifications can quantify altered protein translation, degradation, or functional modification at a network-wide level, with most analyses requiring hours to days. With massive amounts of systems-level data being generated, the main challenge is to garner biological insight from any given data type or combination of data types. The talks in this session will focus on computational modeling of complex, systems-level data sets, with the goal of developing predictive, quantitative models describing the underlying biological system.

Title:

Control in Synthetic Biology (Part I)

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Timothy Lu (MIT)

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Timothy Lu - Scalable and Tunable Platforms for Engineering Synthetic Gene Circuits
2. Harris Wang - Construction of Synthetic Organisms through Large-Scale Genome Engineering
3. Doug Densmore - EDA to BDA

Abstract

Synthetic biology is focused on engineering biological organisms to study natural systems and to provide new solutions for pressing medical, industrial, and environmental problems. Attaining quantitative control of biological systems is at the heart of synthetic biology, but many challenges stand in the way of this ultimate goal. This session features leading researchers who will describe their efforts to break through these current roadblocks using software, hardware, control theory, and novel biological platforms.

Title:

Control in Synthetic Biology (Part II)

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Jeff Gore - Bacterial Cheating Limits Antibiotic Resistance
2. Domitila del Vecchio - A Control Theory Approach to Engineering Biomolecular Circuits

Abstract

Title:

Control in Synthetic Biology (Part III)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Irene Chen - Simple Model Systems in Synthetic Biology: RNA Replicators and Bacteriophages
2. Xiao Wang - Engineering Complex Dynamics Using Synthetic Gene Networks
3. Tom Ellis - Designing and Building Synthetic Biology – an Engineering Challenge

Abstract

Title:

Controls in Synthetic Biology (Part IV)

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Jacob White (MIT)

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Rahul Sarpeshkar - Analog Electronic Circuit Design for Synthetic Biology and Systems Biology
2. Jacob White - Numerical Subtleties in Biochemical Oscillator Sensitivity Analysis in the Presence of Conservation Constraints
3. Mark Brynildsen - Metabolic Engineering to Potentiate Immunity

Abstract

Developing system-level models in biology can be a daunting task, as the process involves simultaneously addressing a variety of issues including: what questions can the model be used to answer; what level of physical detail is necessary; what strategies should be used for calibration and validation; and which computational techniques will be most effective. The presenters in this session examine these modeling issues from a number of perspectives, both applied and methodological, with a common emphasis on computational issues. The talks on apoptosis, cell-cycle regulation, chemotherapy optimization, and synthetic biology offer insights into techniques for dealing with uncertainty, particularly those associated with molecular fluctuations. The talks on optimal experiment design for model identification, in-vivo reaction rate modulation using microscopy-based feedback control, and geometry-based algorithms for data-fitting, address the multifaceted challenges of model calibration. Approaches for enhancing existing computational infrastructure are addressed in the talk on using a circuit simulator to model pathogen metabolic dynamics and the talk on applying a flexible modeling framework to multi-fidelity modeling of neurons.

Title:

Controls in Synthetic Biology (Part V)

5:15 pm - 5:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

()

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Deborah Hung - RNA Expression Signatures to Determine Antibiotic Responses

Abstract

Title:

Modeling Biomedical Systems

9:30 am - 11:45 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Hongyue Dai (Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts )

Jeffrey Saltzman (Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts)

Room: Provincetown
Floor 4, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Madhusudan Natarajan - Predictive Patient Stratification through Parameter Reduction, Modeling, and Simulation
2. Aravind Subramanian - Large Scale Gene Expression Analysis of Cellular States
3. John Luk - HEPAPrint: A Metagene Expression Signature for Individualized Risk Assessment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Surgery
4. Hongyue Dai - Systematic Study of HCC Tumors by RNA and DNA Profiling of Matched Tumor and Normal Tissues

Abstract

Health care is undergoing an unprecedented and rapid evolution. The Pharma industry is facing the challenge of developing next generation therapeutics to meet the complexity of patient populations as revealed by genomic and genetic information from profiling and sequencing technologies. Success was measured indirectly through surrogate markers often based on empirically tabulated results or models. There have been high profile clinical trials that have pointed to the shortcomings of this approach. In addition, rapidly increasing health costs and the very public debate about how health care costs will be paid has led to so-called outcomes based medicine.

Academics and industry alike have turned towards understanding the mechanisms of disease progression and treatments. Systems biology - or in this context - the discipline of understanding of biomedical systems has provided tools capable of discovering detailed biological function, creating function based biomarkers and building high fidelity pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models to predict clinical responses. In this session, we provide examples and point to successes of these approaches.

Title:

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Modeling

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Mauro Ursino (University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Title:

Ballistocardiography: Advancements and New Perspectives from Space Missions.

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Marco Di Rienzo (Department of Biomedical Technology, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milano)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Ballistocardiogram (BCG) allows the investigation of cardiac mechanics and hemodynamics from the minimal accelerations of the body induced by the heart contractions. This non-invasive technique was mainly developed from the forties to the sixties. In spite of its potentialities, at that time it received little attention by clinicians because of the complexity of the measurement devices and this left the informative content of BCG partially unexplored. Recently, the interest in BCG has been revitalized by the availability of wearable MEMS sensors, which make the assessment of body accelerations simple and unobtrusive. Concerning the BCG physiological meaning, it should be additionally considered that in the terrestrial environment, gravity plays a major role in the blood flow distribution occurring at each heart contraction, thus heavily influencing the BCG signal. In this respect the comparison of BCG data assessed on ground and during spaceflights may facilitate the interpretation of BCG and improve our knowledge on the cardiovascular effects of gravity.
Aim of this session is to provide an updated state of the art in the BCG assessment, illustrate new interpretative keys stemming from data collected during spaceflights and discuss potential home-care applications of this approach.

Title:

Adaptive and parametric filtering of cardiovascular signals

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Pablo Laguna (University of Zaragoza)

Mika P. Tarvainen (University of Eastern Finland)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Cardiovascular signals carry hidden information of cardiac and vasculature function as well as autonomic nervous system activity. Additionally, the interactions among different source signals is carrying complementary information than individual signals by them self, usually speaking about control mechanisms. Accurate estimation of this information is highly valuable in many biomedical applications. This information can be useful in detection of cardiovascular diseases or related risk factors such as diabetes or stress. In addition, this information can be used to estimate the status of the autonomic nervous system and their control functioning, and thereby, to evaluate the physiological state of the subject. In this session, the latest developments of signal processing methods for extracting such useful information from cardiovascular signals are presented. The session will focus on adaptive and parametric filtering methods, covering also applications of principal component analysis (PCA) or independent component analysis (ICA) on cardiovascular signals

Title:

Systems Bioengineering in the Cardiac Myocyte

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Joseph Greenstein (Johns Hopkins University)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The complexity and integrative nature of heart cell electrophysiology has led to an evolution of experimental techniques and computational models that have played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of heart function. An important emerging theme in systems biology is that the detailed nature of local signaling events has important consequences at higher biological scales. Examples in the cardiac myocyte include calcium signaling at specialized sites of intracellular calcium release known as dyads, compartmentation of cell signaling pathways, and mitochondrial energy production and it interaction with energy utilizing processes in the cell. The talks in this session will describe new findings or advances in the following areas: 1) automated image processing of the calcium transient in cardiac myocytes, 2) modeling the effects of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase on the late sodium current and the cardiac action potential, 3) combined experimental-computational approaches to understanding mitochondrial redox and energy networks, 4) dynamics of local calcium release.

Request: This is under track 5.11. Based on the availability of the speakers, it will be absolutely necessary to schedule this session on Wednesday, Thursday, or in the morning on Friday. At least two of the speakers cannot attend otherwise. I was told I could make this request with this submission. Thank you.

Title:

Cardiovascular signal processing & modeling: monitoring in critical care applications

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Manuela Ferrario (Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The abundance of measurements available in modern intensive care units and emergency rooms for the monitoring of vital signs in critically ill patients has not been fully exploited and the translation of the mathematical modeling for their analysis to clinical decision making has not reached its potential yet.
The key to interpret the relevant physiological information in the data recorded and displayed by monitors consists in assessing the underlying fundamental pathological alterations. Signal processing and model-based analysis of the interactions and variations in cardiorespiratory signals such as ECG, arterial and venous pressures, photoplethysmographic pulse oximetry, capnometry may provide tools to estimate non measurable quantities, to determine the pathologic impairment in autonomic nervous system control of blood pressure, heart rate and circulating volumes, and to predict potentially harmful events which contribute to morbidity and mortality. As a result, the use of cutting-edge methods for the extraction of the information conveyed by measurable quantities may pave the way to a more efficient and less invasive bedside monitoring.
The goals of this session are: to outline the main clinical implications of the need for reliable preventive strategies; to present state-of-the-art mathematical techniques applied to model the cardiorespiratory interactions which play a key role in critical care; to set sights on the technological issues entailed by real-time, online acquisition and processing of vital signs; and to foster a thorough discussion on the potential of such modeling approaches in the prediction of both life threatening events, such as sudden hypotension, arrhythmias, ischemia, pulmonary edema, sepsis and shock, and the effectiveness of therapeutic countermeasures commonly adopted in the clinical practice.

Title:

Advances in Signal Processing for Atrial Fibrillation Analysis

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Vicente Zarzoso (University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, affecting up to 10% of the elderly population and thought to be responsible of up to 20% of cerebral vascular accidents. Despite its prevalence and risks of serious complications, the mechanisms behind the generation and self-perpetuation of this disease are still not fully understood. A variety of therapies (pharmacology, electric shock, catheter ablation, surgery) exist for the treatment of AF, but their success is often rather uncertain.

Over the last decade, biomedical signal processing has attempted to help cardiologists in shedding some light on the understanding of AF and the selection of the most appropriate therapy. The ability to reveal and quantify underlying structures – otherwise hidden to the naked eye – in signals recorded invasively or noninvasively from AF patients provides additional information on which cardiologists can rely in clinical decision-making and understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. Conversely, this challenging cardiac condition calls for the design and application of purpose-built signal processing techniques.

This special session will bring together world-leading cardiologists who are benefitting from signal processing tools for the diagnosis and treatment of AF, and biomedical signal processing researchers who are developing tools to help improve our understanding of this widespread cardiac disease. The session aims to engage the participants in a fruitful discussion on the role that signal processing will have to play in solving this biomedical challenge.
In particular, the session will feature two renowned cardiologists specialized in the treatment of AF: Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee, the pioneer of the ablation technique based on the so-called complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE), and Dr. Ashok Shah, a member of the team who discovered the triggering role of the pulmonary veins in the genesis of AF. The participation of these leading experts will be of great interest to biomedical signal processing researchers working in the field.

Title:

Computational modeling of lung mechanical function

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Jason Bates (University of Vermont)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

TBD

Title:

Modeling the respiratory control system during sleep: applications to sleep disordered breathing

11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

David Andrew Wellman, MD (Harvard Medical School)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

TBD

Title:

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Robotics for Upper and Lower Extremity

8:00 am - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Hermano Igo Krebs (MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Room: Simmons
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Prof. Sunil Agrawal, Delaware University, Newark, DE, USA: "Departures approaches for the Lower Extremity Therapy."
2. Prof. Grigore Burdea, Rutgers, NJ, USA: "Departure Approaches for the Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Robotics"
3. Prof. Glauco Caurin, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil: "Serious Games and Rehabilitation Robotics."
4. Prof. Lorenzo Chiari, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy: "Going Distal: Mechatronic Shoe for Gait Therapy and Fall Prevention"
5. Prof. Eugenio Guglielmelli, Universita Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy: "A Wearable Robot for Gait Assistance Designed by Exploiting Structural Intelligence"
6. Prof. Neville Hogan, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA: "A Neuroscience Perspective for Rehabilitation"
7. Dr Hermano Igo Krebs, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA: "An Overview of Lower Extremity Robotics"
8. Dr Hermano Igo Krebs, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA: "Impairment and Functional Based Approaches"
9. Dr. Olivier Lambercy, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland: "Going Distal: Hand Rehabilitation and Assessment"
10. Prof Marcie O'Malley, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA: "Going Distal: Design/control/Mechatronics perspective"
11. Prof. Anindo Roy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA: "Going Distal: Lower Extremity Robotics for Chronic and Acute Stroke"

Abstract

The field of rehabilitation and therapeutic robotics has grown steadily over the past decade, with significant clinical contributions. Studies have demonstrated both the efficacy and advantages of robotics for assessing and treating motor impairment. Robotics and information technologies enable an overdue transformation of rehabilitation clinics from pre-industrial manual operations to technology-rich activities and there is significant opportunity for engineers in this area. The purpose of this full-day workshop is to provide a concise yet broad-based introduction to key topics in the field of rehabilitation and therapeutic robotics, such as basic neuroscience and rehabilitation, impairment based approaches, design and control of devices from a mechatronics perspective, and clinical implications. The 1-day workshop will include a series of speakers with expertise in upper and lower extremity rehabilitation robotics representing both engineering and clinical research labs.

Title:

Trends in neural probing

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Herc Neves (imec Belgium)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Gyorgy Buzsaki, Rutgers University, USA
2. Tim Harris, HHMI, USA
3. Jack Judy, UCLA and DARPA, USA
4. Herc Neves, IMEC, Belgium
5. Patrick Ruther, IMTEK, Germany
6. Patrick Tresco, University of Utah, USA

Abstract

Despite the considerable progress in neural probe technology made in the past few decades, the stable interfacing with neurons using a large number of electrodes over long periods of time remains a challenge. Much is known today about the response of brain tissue to probes and innovative solutions have been introduced to reduce the impact of their presence: flexible materials, elution of anti-inflammatory drugs, reduced shank volume, to name a few. Microfabricated probes - including silicon-based implementations - are now mainstream. Probes with a very high electrode count and local electronics for signal processing and telemetry now greatly facilitate the study of freely moving,
behaving subjects. Yet there is hardly a departure from the spike-shaped penetrating probes and the consequent damage to tissue. Probing systems still display a considerable mechanical mismatch with respect to the surrounding brain tissue and their sheer size is frequently too obtrusive to probe function.

This workshop aims to bring together the developers and the users of this technology. Technologists willpresent the state of the art and discuss the most promising solutions. Neuroscientists will present their views on existing tools and discuss their wish lists. Beyond that, the event should also serve as a forum to think out of the box, to suggest radically different approaches to probe the brain.

Title:

New developments in EMG-based assessment of motor function and activity: Implications for research and clinical practice

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Gerold Ebenbichler, MD (Dept Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Jules Dewald, PT, PhD - Northwestern University
2. Gerold Ebenbichler, MD - Vienna Medical University
3. Roberto Merletti, PhD - Politecnico di Torino

Abstract

Objective classification of impaired neuromuscular function and reliably monitoring the outcome through therapeutic interventions are of utmost importance in medicine. The science of electromyography has been evolving rapidly in recent years. Focused research and the advent of new technology have made objective examination of motor performance possible on an electrophysiological basis. In addition to the traditional diagnostic needle EMG technique, acquisition of EMG with surface electrodes has reached a point where monitoring the motor control and performance aspects of patients in a clinical environment or examining ergonomics in the workplace has become both feasible and simple to perform.

Title:

Motor control principles in neurorobotics and prosthetics

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Dr. Jose L. Pons (Bioengineering Group, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Madrid, Spain. )

Dr. Silvestro Micera (Institute for Automation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, CH )

Dr. Diego Torricelli (Bioengineering Group, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dr. Hartmut Geyer, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, US.
2. Prof. Karsten Berns, Robotics Research Lab, Kaiserslautern University, Germany.
3. Prof. Thomas Mergner, Neurology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
4. Dr. Jose L. Pons, Bioengineering Group, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
5. Dr. Silvestro Micera. Institute for Automation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, CH.

Abstract

Actual efforts in rehabilitation research are integrating neuroscience knowledge into engineering to develop new effective means for neurorehabilitation, based on a deeper understanding of the human control system. In the field of robotics and prosthetics, a variety of systems based on neurophysiological and biomechanical principles have been proposed so far. At the same time, other emerging fields such as humanoid robotics or human body simulation, which are not specifically directed to rehabilitation, also have made use of bio-inspiration to mimic human behaviour. Promising improvements in rehabilitation can arise from the exchange of knowledge between these different technological areas.

The workshop aims to bring together engineers and clinicians interested in sharing their ideas in biologically motivated approaches concerning the following main areas:

1. Neuro-musculo-skeletal modeling of human walking.
2. Control of human-lik e bipedal robots.
3. Neural control of wearable robots, e.g. exoskeletons and prosthesis.
4. Simulation tools for 3D human body modeling.

Three main standpoints will structure the contributions from the invited speakers as well as the debate among the participants:

1. Methods & concepts. Techniques, prototypes and conceptual designs for innovative bio-inspired machines and models will be discussed. Particular interest will be devoted to the sensorimotor mechanisms of walking and standing.
2. Software platforms & analysis tools. Practical insights on programs and software environments adopted by each community will be presented, to share and compare different solutions to common problems.
3. Clinical & therapeutic applications. Contributions on new therapeutic applications and diagnostic measures which envision the use of bio-inspired machines will be debated.

Title:

Deep brain stimulation: New technical developments and perspectives

12:08 am - 12:09 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Wassilios Meissner (Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bordeaux and Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University Bordeaux 2, France)

Room: Essex Ballroom North
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Phase one is designed to provide an overview of the relevant electrophysiological and electromyographical basis for motor assessment. This session will also discuss latest developments in the attempt to monitoring individual motor unit trains with both surface and needle sensors. The basics of High Density EMG (EMG Imaging) will be provided. Phase two is designed to provide an overview of clinical indications for recording surface, high density EMG and minimally invasive EMG. Topics discussed will include 1) the use of minimally invasive EMG for the prevention of child-delivery lesions, 2) the use of High Density EMG in ergonomics and rehabilitation, 3) the use of surface EMG in rehabilitation medicine and its relevance in the context of the WHO’s International classification of Functioning and Health (ICF). A profound understanding of the EMG force relation-ship, EMG onset measurements and fatigue measurements will be provided.

Title:

Restoring or Augmenting Impaired Sensory Function for Posture and Gait

12:11 am - 12:12 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Kathleen Sienko (University of Michigan)

Patrick Loughlin (University of Pittsburgh)

Room: Essex Ballroom North
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

We propose a special session on the development and utility of assistive devices for improving balance and gait function in sensory-impaired people, such as the elderly and people with lost vestibular function. The focus will be on devices that utilize sensory substitution, which is a technique of replacing or augmenting compromised sensory information. Balance aids using various modes of sensory substitution such as electrotactile, vibrotactile, and auditory feedback of body motion have been developed and found effective in improving postural stability. Research in the area is very active, and it is conceivable that these devices will see significant use in balance impaired subjects in the near future as the technology continues to evolve. This special session will bring together many of the principal developers to address the current state-of-the art in the field, and directions for future research and development.

We believe the appropriate “theme” for this session is Theme 6 (Neural and Rehabilitation Engineering), although it may also fit under Theme 3 (Bioinstrumentation: Sensors, Micro, Nano and Wearable Technologies). Another possibility is Theme 9 (Therapeutic & Diagnostic Systems, Devices and Technologies, Clinical Engineering).

Title:

Vestibular Prostheses - Medical, Neuroscientific and Ethical Issues

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Klaus-Peter Hoffmann (Department Medical Engineering & Neuroprosthetics, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering)

Room: St. George AB
Floor , Westin

Abstract

The development of a neural prosthesis, such as a prosthesis for the vestibular system, requires a multidisciplinary approach. Besides technical issues, neuroscientific, medical and ethical questions have to be considered. Detailed information about the anatomical circumstances at the application site are indispensable, in order to provide a suitable prosthesis design. Moreover, research and development in the field of neuroprosthetics benefit greatly from the creation of appropriate models, taking into account not only the geometrical, but also the functional aspects of the neural structures and the surrounding tissue. Such models can also help in reducing the amount of animal models which are necessary for the proof of concept and the further system development.
As in many cases, it is not possible to completely avoid animal models, ethical issues have to be discussed. Suffering of animals must be avoided or kept to a minimum. This has to be considered already during the planning phase.
In the process of bringing a newly developed medical system (such as a neural prosthesis) to the market, clinical studies are one of the final steps. In this context, care has to be taken to respect the free and informed consent of any person involved in the experiments, avoiding any use of making the human body or its parts as source of financial gain, and being not concerned with eugenic practices and cloning.
Using the European Project CLONS as an example, the symposium will include presentations and discussions about the various and diverse steps which are necessary during the development of a neural prosthesis, with a special emphasis on the neuroscientific, medical and ethical issues.

Title:

What is motor skill and can technology enhance it?

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Vittorio Sanguineti (VS: University of Genoa and Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa (ITALY))

John W. Krakauer (JWK: Columbia University, New York (USA))

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

This session will focus on the problem of motor skill learning. Issues addressed will include (1) The definition of motor skill, how it is studied and analyzed, and how is it distinguished from other forms of motor learning. (2) Enhancement of skill by non-invasive brain stimulation (3) Enhancement of skill by robots (4) Enhancement of skill by video games.

Title:

Next Generation Sensory Replacement Implants

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Dan Merfeld (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary / Harvard Medical School)

Room: Boylston
Floor 4, Marriott

Abstract

The success of cochlear implants has fueled excitement regarding next generation sensory replacement implants. The proposed EMBC'11 special session includes talks focused on devices that are not yet in the clinic. Most of the talks focus on the use of electrical stimulation but optogenetics — genetically engineering neurons to respond to light – will be the focus of one of the talks. Other talks will focus on visual implants and vestibular implants, which appear to be among the next generation of prosthetics poised to help patients.

Title:

Wearable systems for Neuro-Rehabilitation – reaching and grasping

1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Peter H. Veltink (University of Twente)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Neural disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy have essential impacts on upper extremity functions like reaching and grasping. Therapy is directed towards improving the capacity of patients to perform mobility activities. The actual daily-life performance measured by ambulatory sensing modalities can provide important information to adjust neuro-rehabilitation therapies and to provide feedback to the patient, using intelligent on-body monitoring systems and telemonitoring facilities

Title:

Brain-Machine Interfaces, non-invasive approaches

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

José del R. Millán (EPFL)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

to be filled later

Title:

Massively Parallel Neural Processing

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Iyad Obeid (Temple University)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

As brain machine interface (BMI) research starts to mushroom into hundreds and then thousands of neurons, there emerges a need to manage all the information extracted from the brain in real time in order to drive the prosthesis. Conventional general-purpose computers are not ideally suited to this task and their ability to manage massively parallel multi-channel computing will diminish as BMI channel counts continue to increase.

Recently, a number of investigators have started pursuing alternative approaches to massively parallel neural signal processing that do not rely on conventional CPU architectures. These approaches include using Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for massively parallel matrix manipulations, Digital Signal Processors (DPSs) for streamlined signal processing, and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (for customized architectures).

To the best of my knowledge, there hasn’t yet been a Session at a major conference devoted solely to this important area. I would like to host such a Session in the hopes of attracting interest to the problem of parallel neural computing.

Title:

Recovering Neural Information from Peripheral Nerves

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Dominique Durand (Biomedical Engineering, CWRU)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The goal of this session is to bring together some the key researchers involved in recording neural signals from peripheral nerves. The various algorithms developed to recover the ENG signals, the different hardware designs of the interface, the signal processing techniques applied and the type of signals that can be recovered will be presented by experts in this field.

Title:

Implantable Biochips

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Mohamad Sawan (Polytechnique, Unversity of Montreal)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Emerging integrated circuits and systems in the biology and medical arenas, which are called Biochips, are promising solutions to numerous pathologies. These biochips are intended for neuroscience discoveries, for biosensing, diagnosis, monitoring, and for treatment using electrical microstimulation, drug delivery, and other actuators. Their multiple applications and fervent reception in the medical community have turned implantable biochips into one of the most dynamic and interesting topics in the IEEE community. The implementation of such Microsystems, including neural sensors and actuators, presents many circuits and systems design and biosignal processing challenges. The proposed EMBC’11 special session will cover divers types of biochips intended for rehabilitation engineering at the level of peripheral and central neural systems. The goal is to bring together the research community in this area from EMBS.

Title:

Wearable systems for Neuro-Rehabilitation – mobility, balance and activity monitoring

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Peter H. Veltink (University of Twente)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

Neural disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy have essential impacts on mobility, specifically balance and nature and frequency of mobility activities. Therapy is directed towards improving the capacity of patients to perform mobility activities. The actual daily-life performance measured by ambulatory sensing modalities can provide important information to adjust neuro-rehabilitation therapies and to provide feedback to the patient, using intelligent on-body monitoring systems and telemonitoring facilities.

Title:

Stimulation techniques for neuroprostheses

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Jose Carmena (UC Berkeley)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

[To be filled later]

Title:

Futures in Brain-Machine Interfaces

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Justin C . Sanchez, Ph.D. (University of Miami)

Jose M. Carmena, Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

In the last 10 years, many studies in animals and humans have shown the feasibility and great potential of brain-machine interfaces (BMI) for bypassing injury and restoring communication and control in subjects with impairments of the nervous system. While significant progress has been made in advancing neurophysiolgical and neural engineering principles, many of these studies have been performed in very specialized scenarios with simplifying assumptions. These include static simplified environments, open-loop decoding, limited somatosensory feedback, able bodied subjects, limited knowledge of learning, limited hierarchical modeling of neural and musculoskeletal systems. The impact of these assumptions and simplifications could significantly impair the performance of BMIs in the activities of daily life. Moreover, these aspects leave current BMI designs ill-prepared to address all of the complexities of dynamic BMI use in real world, sophisticated environments.
The purpose of this mini-symposium is to evaluate the current state-of-the-art in Brain-Machine Interface design and innovate a new roadmap for future BMI experimentation. The session will consist of presentations and a panel discussion on the principles of neural interface design for increasing BMI impact on biomedical research, human health, and rehabilitation. Discussion will also include how now engineering and neurophysiologic knowledge can overcome current limitations to innovative the vision of next generation BMIs, which functionally link large ensembles of neurons directly with prosthetic systems.

Title:

Neural decoding in brain-machine interfaces

5:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Wasim Q. Malik (Harvard Medical School)

Riccardo Barbieri (Harvard Medical School)

Room: Boylston
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) offer the potential to restore mobility and communication ability in people with paralysis and locked-in syndrome. A motor BMI records movement-related neural activity and generates corresponding control commands for an assistive device such as a computer cursor, robot arm, or functional electrical stimulation device. The neural signals may consist of single-unit spike trains, multi-unit spike trains, continuous multi-unit activity, local field potentials (LFP), electrocorticograms (ECoG), and electroencephalograms (EEG). The process of mapping neural activity to intended movement kinematics is referred to as neural decoding. Various classes of decoding algorithms have been proposed in recent years, including neural networks, regression and Bayesian methods. Neural decoding is currently an area of active research that aims to address a number of challenges faced by BMIs. Optimal information extraction is a key objective, motivated by the aim to achieve prosthetic control with multiple degrees of freedom. Robust decoding algorithms for chronic BMIs are being explored to combat neural signal nonstationarity. Real-time BMI operation requires computationally efficient estimation algorithms. Incorporating target information can improve trajectory decoding and relevant methods are being explored. Addressing some of these topics, this mini-symposium will present the latest developments and explore future directions for research in neural decoding. The use of point process generalized linear models will be analyzed in the context of adaptive filtering for BMIs. Results on BMI control with proprioceptive feedback will be presented and compared with control under visual feedback as is conventional in closed-loop BMI experiments. Changes in the firing properties of motor neurons, observed in association with switching from manual to BMI control, will be investigated with a focus on the implications of apparent neural dissociation from body movement. The mini-symposium will thus highlight some of the key fundamental and practical issues faced by intracortical BMIs and present emerging approaches to achieve improved BMI performance.

Title:

Optogenetics: novel tools for probing and manipulating neural circuits

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Karim G. Oweiss (Michigan State University)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The last five years have witnessed a revolutionary progress in the way nerve cell activity can be manipulated with light. The advent of Optogenetics has enabled unprecedented control over the discharge pattern of specific cell types. By sensitizing voltage-gated ion channels in these cells to light using microbial opsin genetic constructs, the possibility to trigger precisely-timed action potentials, or to entirely silence a population of cells for precisely-defined periods of time became feasible. The implications of these advances are profound, and already many studies have demonstrated the utility of this technology in elucidating numerous mechanisms of sensory, cognitive, motor function and dysfunction.
This minisymposium is intended to provide an overview of optogenetics technology and its potential in shaping the future of basic neuroscience and neural engineering research and biomedicine. It is organized to provide the audience with the basic elements of optogenetics, the technology needed to accelerate its progress, its potential use in the design of future neuroprosthetic applications to help people with severe sensory, cognitive and motor deficits, and its ability to reveal the underpinnings of computation and information processing in neural circuits. Leading experts in the field who have taken an early role in its development, or are currently adopting it in their biological experiments in rodent and primate animal models are invited to present their latest research to the EMBC community.

Title:

Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Robert Kenyon (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

This session will examine research results using Virtual Reality systems for Rehabilitation of motor control cognitive systems following stroke and traumatic brain injury.

[This is only Half the session since Paul must add his material as well. this will be done using another form like this.]

Title:

Recent Experiences with Non-Penetrating Micro-Electrodes in the CNS

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Mesut Sahin (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

Room: Essex Ballroom North
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Facing long standing challenges with penetrating micro electrodes, many laboratories have begun testing surface micro electrodes in various parts of the CNS for neural recording. Electrocorticogram (E ECoG) recordings in epileptic patients did not provide much spatial and temporal resolution due to the large size of electrodes in earlier trials. There is now growing evidence that surface electrodes may even record multi-unit activity if they are small enough and the targeted neural structures are sufficiently close to the surface. Thus, the notion of 'micro-electrodes have to penetrate the CNS in order to record spike activity' may no longer be the generally accepted rule in some parts of the CNS. In this session, I will invite young investigators who have made advances in this new exciting area of research both with animal experimentations and human trials. We will present data characterizing the spatial resolution of the signals recorded from different parts of the CNS such as the cerebellum, dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and the sensorimotor cortex. Data analysis techniques for extraction of sensory and motor information will be discussed. A ten minute panel discussion will conclude the symposium.

Title:

Rehabilitation Robotics

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Hermano Igo Krebs (MIT - Masschusetts Institute of Technology)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dipl. Ing. Paul Jansen, Sanofi-Aventis, Frankfurt am Main, Germany: "Rehabilitation Robotics: an Industry Perspective"
2. Dr Hermano Igo Krebs, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA: "Rehabilitation Robotics: an Academic Engineer Perspective"
3. Prof Bruce Volpe, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA: "Rehabilitation Robotics: a Clinician and Neurologist Perspective"

Abstract

The field of rehabilitation and therapeutic robotics has grown steadily over the past decade, with significant clinical contributions. Studies have demonstrated both the efficacy and advantages of robotics for assessing and treating motor impairment. Robotics and information technologies enable an overdue transformation of rehabilitation clinics from pre-industrial manual operations to technology-rich activities and there is significant opportunity for engineers in this area. The purpose of this mini-symposium is to provide a concise yet broad-based introduction to key topics in the field of rehabilitation and therapeutic robotics, such as basic engineering consideration, clinical results and perspective, neuroscience and rehabilitation implications, and industry perspective. The mini-symposium will include a series of speakers with expertise in rehabilitation robotics representing both engineering and clinical practicioners. The mini-symposium will conclude with the big industry perspective and questions on a technology that is emerging more and more in their "radar screen."

Title:

Development of a Retinal Prosthesis for the Blind: Technical and Biological Challenges

11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Joseph Rizzo, MD (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/VA Center for Innovative Visual Rehabilitation)

Room: Essex Ballroom South
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

Blindness which is caused by diseases of the retina is today a major disability among the aging in the developed world. These types of “neural” blindness cannot be treated in any satisfactory manner. When neural blindness occurs because of a relatively selective loss of the photoreceptors (i.e., rods and cones), there is substantial evidence to support the belief that a high-density retinal prosthesis might be able to restore useful vision. More specifically, there is now compelling experimental evidence in humans that electrical stimulation of retinal neurons that survive the loss of photoreceptors can be used to bypass the damaged tissue and deliver visual information to the brain. Even a crude form of artificial vision, however, will still require hundreds of individually-addressable pixels to create truly meaningful images. Work on such a retinal prosthesis began with two groups in the 1980’s and has expanded to over 20 research programs across the globe. The types of neural blindness that would seem to be most amenable to treatment with a retinal prosthesis include age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). AMD is a major cause of blindness, affecting roughly 2 million Americans. Given that AMD is related to aging, the number of AMD cases is expected to increase by 50% over the next decade alone. RP, meanwhile, is the leading cause of inherited blindness worldwide, causing significant loss of visual function in just under 2 million patients. Generally, RP causes more severe and widespread blindness than AMD. Because of the generally greater disability, patients with RP are the primary initial candidates for a retinal prosthesis. Significant technical and biological challenges to a chronically implantable retinal prosthetic still remain, however, and these will be discussed at the symposium.

Title:

Wireless miniature neurostimulation devices

5:15 pm - 5:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Victor Pikov (HMRI and University of Southern California)

Room: Essex Ballroom North
Floor 3, Westin

Abstract

A major roadblock in the field of neural prosthetics is the lack of microelectronic devices for neural stimulation that can last a lifetime in the nervous system. Miniature wireless neurostimulation devices are being developed to eliminate the wire interconnects and chronic tissue reactions due to the tethering forces generated by these wires. Injection of the devices through a syringe needle would significantly simplify the implantation procedure and reduce the surgical risks. This mini-symposium will discuss alternative approaches for wireless energy supply and communication with the miniature stimulation devices, including infrared light and electromagnetic waves.

Title:

Nanobiomaterials

9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Dr. Ali Khademhosseini (Harvard-MIT )

Dr. Esmaiel Jabbari (University of South Carolina)

Room: Wellesley
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dr. Karen Christman, University of California San Diego, "Natural nanomaterials"
2. Dr. Milica Radisic, University of Toronto, "Self-assembled nanomaterials"
3. Dr. Ehsan Jabbarzadeh, University of South Carolina, "Nanofabrication Technologies to Control Stem Cell Fate"
4. Dr. Kit Parker, Harvard University, "Nanobiomaterials for tissue engineering"
5. Dr. Helen Lu, Columbia University, "Nanofibers for musculoskeletal tissue engineering"
6. Dr. Michael McShane, Texas A&M University, "Nanomaterials for biosensors"

Abstract

The extracellular matrix of biological tissues exhibits hierarchical levels of organization from macroscopic to microscopic and nanoscale. This workshop will focus on how to apply material synthesis and processing technologies to the fabrication of biomaterials will well-defined nanoscale structure and chemistry, and to study biological processes at the molecular and cellular scales including cell migration, differentiation, development and maturation. The workshop will begin with a series of invited lectures on natural and synthetic nanomaterials and applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and biosensing. Participants will learn specific details about the practical aspects of fabricating nanofibers, patterning, layered composites, self-assembled or directed assembly of nanostructures and their use for specific applications. The workshop includes a number of nationally renowned speakers, and is geared toward graduate students, research scientists, faculty and industrial participants who are interested in gaining experience in the exciting field of bionanomaterials.

Title:

Nanotechnology for therapeutic and diagnosis systems

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, Aug 30 2011

Organizers: 

Carmelina Ruggiero (University of Genoa - dist)

Room: Suffolk
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Fumihito Arai, PhD - Tohoku University
2. Mike McShane, PhD - Texas A&M University
3. Jay Nadeau, PhD - McGill University
4. Carmelina Ruggiero, PhD - University of Genoa

Abstract

Nanobiodevices are based on molecular recognition, by which they can interact with complex molecular system which are the basis of life processes. Early diagnosis and treatment of disease is achieving significant advances by techniques based on recognition at the molecular level and on nano-materials for nano sensor and drug delivery systems. Nanobiosensors and nanobiodevices utilized the properties of biological and physical nano materials to recognize a target molecules and transduce this information into electronic signals or into other actions such as the opening of a nano structured drug delivery system.
This workshop addresses several examples of such devices.
Specifically, it focuses on quantum dots, nanobiosensors, drug delivery systems and biomedical nanorobotics.

Quantum dots are crystals which have specific photochemical and photophysical properties that are not available from either isolated molecules or bulk solids and can be covalently linked with biological molecules such as peptides, antibodies and small-molecule ligands. They can therefore be used as biological labels. Application examples will be given for neuroscience, the study of ion channels and for the environment.

The use of nanomaterals for the fabrication of biosensor has brought about improved sensitivity and performance. Due to their dimension, this have allowed simple and fast in vivo analyses. Examples will be given on specific clinical applications, including glucose sensing for diabetes.
Targeted drug delivery is one of the benefits of nanomedicine apply to therapy. Nanostructured drug carriers allow to reduce side effects and to obtain more efficient therapies. Examples will be given on several drug carriers and on specific applications such as oncology, osteoarthritis and inflammatory problems.

Nanorobotics mainly relates to the design and control of robot at the nanoscale and to manipulation and assembly of nanoscale components. Examples will be given as relates to cell culture and tissue engineering.

Title:

Electrical Fields at the Cell and Protein Scale

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Dr. Milica Radisic (University of Toronto )

Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic (Columbia University)

Room: Regis
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dr. Lauren Black, Tufts University, "Assessing the role of alterations in electrical function in the improvement of contraction force in mechanically stimulated engineered myocardial constructs"
2. Dr. Michael Levin, Tufts University, "Targeting endogenous bioelectric signals for regenerative and cancer biology"
3. Dr. Vivian Mushahwar, University of Alberta "Intraspinal microstimulation can reactivate spinal networks and restore standing and walking after spinal cord injury"
4. Dr. Milos Popovic, University of Toronto "Functional electrical stimulation therapy for restoring voluntary grasping function in patients with sub-acute incomplete tetraplegia"
5. Dr. Milica Radisic, University of Toronto "Electrical field stimulation for cardiac tissue engineering"
6. Dr. Sarah Sundelacruz , Tufts University, "Calcium signaling mediates the effects of membrane potential depolarization on human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation"

Abstract

Endogenous electrical fields are powerful regulators of cellular function. Traditionally, the study or electrical potentials and their effects on cellular function has been limited to excitable cells such as neurons and muscle cells. However, recent emerging evidence suggests that these potentials, produced by ion channel and pump proteins control functions such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and cell shape in many other cell types and tissues. Recent work by our speakers demonstrates that bioelectrical signals are used as a medium in which living systems store information about tissue and organ shape within bioelectrical networks that are invisible to proteomics and genomic analysis. When applied to tissue culture in vitro, the electrical fields influence assembly of excitable tissues such cardiac and nerve tissue.

This workshop will provide forward-looking strategies to restore standing and walking functions as well as voluntary grasping after spinal cord injury in human subjects via electrical stimulation. Examples of the use of electrical stimulation to improve impulse propagation and functional properties of engineered cardiac tissues as well as to direct the fate of stem and progenitor cells will be featured. The workshop will feature recent evidence demonstrating that transmembrane potential gradients are powerful controls of eye development, craniofacial patterning, spinal cord and limb regeneration, tumorigenesis and stem cell growth. Consequently, the control of bioelectrical fields enables control of excitable tissue assembly in vitro, detection and suppression of cancer and altering the positioning of body organs during development.

Title:

Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials

12:00 am - 12:00 am
Wednesday, Nov 30 -0001

Organizers: 

Dr. Hojae Bae (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School )

Dr. Ehsan Jabbarzadeh (University of South Carolina )

Dr. Ebru Oral (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School)

Room:
Floor ,

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Dr. Joe Tien, Boston University, "Functional Vascularization of Microfluidic Scaffolds"
2. Dr. Hak-Joon Sung, Vanderbilt University, "Multiplex biomaterial cues: beyond engineering cells and towards a therapy"
3. Dr. Qianbing Xu Tufts University, "Nanostructured substrate fabricated using nanoskving for Tissue engineering"
4. Dr. Lakshmi S. Nair M. Phil, University of Connecticut, "Injectable lactoferrin based biomaterials: cell-biomaterial interactions"

Abstract

The ability to manipulate the cellular microenvironment is a key factor for controlling cell viability, growth, migration, differentiation, and function as the microenvironment surrounding cells influences most of the physiological aspects in vivo. Recently, it is of great interest to design various biomaterials combining micro-/nanofabrication that can potentially provide more complex and biomimetic environments in order to recreate many of the complex features of in vivo microenvironments for studying and controlling cellular functions. In this session, we are interested in a variety of synthetic and/or biologic biomaterials that hold different properties (porosity, pore size, connectivity, surface energetics, mechanical strength, modulus, surface roughness, topography, hydrophilicity, polarity, ligand type, density, pattern at micro- and nanoscale, etc.) to control various cellular behaviors (migration, adhesion, invasion, differentiation, remodeling, apoptosis, immunogenicity, morphology, fate, viability, etc.).

Title:

Analysis of High-Throughput Systems Biology Data

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Catherine Stamoulis (Harvard Medical School, USA.)

Room: Arlington
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Title:

Bioinformatics for Integrated Genomics II

11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Chang, Hsun-Hsien (Childen's Hospital Boston)

Room: Arlington
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Title:

Gene and Drug Delivery

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Chun Wang (University of Minnesota)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

The engineering of carriers and approaches to the delivery of genes and drugs has tremendous potential in revolutionalizing health care. In this session, we will focus on the cutting-edge research in the areas of engineered delivery systems for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic modalities for a range of applications in medicine. The invited speakers will discuss their own state-of-the-art research work on the delivery of theragnostics (agents combining therapeutics with diagnostics), angiogenic inhibitors that have shown huge potential for treating cancer, RNA interference for reprogram stem cells in situ, and new material systems to meet the challenge of delivering biomacromolecular drugs. All the invited speakers are faculty members in prestigious research institutions around the world.

Title:

Cell-Matrix Interactions within Tumors and Normal Tissue

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Nicole Moore (National Cancer Institute, Office of Physical Sciences - Oncology)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

An engineering approach in biology is often necessary to understand how complex interactions regulate a tissue or initiate disease. Studies of cells and their local interactions with the microenvironment has been important for comprehension of biological processes such as tissue morphogenesis, homeostasis, apoptosis, and the progression of diseases such as cancer. Dynamic cell-matrix interactions that are key for regulating tissue function and organization are driven by both chemical and physical properties of the matrix. Structural forces such as tension and compression have been described as being key components for tissue organization ultimately by affecting cell shape. Additionally, strength and type of receptor interactions direct cell migration and adhesion. In turn, these often dynamic forces and chemical cues mediate regulation of gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation. This mini-symposium will highlight recent advances in studying cell interactions with the extracellular matrix through a materials and engineering perspective.

Title:

Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine

8:00 am - 8:45 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

William L. Murphy (University of Wisconsin )

Todd McDevitt (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

The ability of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells, to continuously self-renew and differentiate into an array of mature cell types opens up new possibilities in fields ranging from drug screening to tissue engineering. However, stem cells also present unique challenges to biomaterials scientists, as the fate of these cells can be strongly influenced, and perhaps controlled, by the physical and biochemical properties of their microenvironment. This session will describe new developments in stem cell bioengineering, with an emphasis on approaches that are using engineered microenvironments to create new strategies in regenerative medicine.

Title:

Cellular Force Transduction

5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Jeffrey G Jacot (Rice University/ Texas Children's Hospital)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that the sensing and processing of mechanical forces can drive many aspects of cell function and behavior, including differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, polarization and cell-cell interactions. This session will focus on the signaling and processing used by cells to sense and respond to their mechanical environment, paying particular attention to the quantification of intracellular and extracellular forces and the relation to in vivo behavior. Speakers will discuss model systems for studying mechanotransduction, methods for evaluating mechanical properties, force and traction on a cellular scale, and specific mechanotransductive pathways and effects.

Title:

Tailoring Biomaterial Properties for Regenerative Medicine

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Aaron Goldstein (Virginia Tech)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Fabrication of biomaterial scaffold for tissue engineering applications requires numerous design considerations that make this field challenging. The biomaterial itself must be compatible, and present chemical, biochemical, and topographical features that guide cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and organization into tissue-like structures. Concurrently, the three-dimensional scaffold architecture and its mechanical properties can also affect cell alignment, migration, organization, and differentiation.

In this session, we will present novel work in biomaterial design, and scaffold fabrication for a number of different engineered tissue applications. The application of both natural and synthetic biomaterials will be discussed.

Title:

Biomimetics and Patterned Biomaterials

11:15 am - 12:30 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Michael Davis (Emory University)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Open to all registered conference attendees

Abstract

Heterogeneous tissues with spatially and temporally modulated properties and their biomaterial mimics play an important role in organism physiology and regenerative medicine. With the understanding that the microstructure, mechanics, and composition of the ECM is dynamic and often spatially patterned or heterogeneous over the length-scale of traditional biomaterials, there has recently been significant effort aimed at moving away from static, monolithic biomaterials towards instructive biomaterials that provide specialized cell behavioral cues in spatially and temporally defined manners. Better development of bioinspired and patterned biomaterials may lead to therapeutics for a variety of diseases.

Title:

Translational Tissue Engineering

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Karen Christman (University of California San Diego)

Room: Clarendon
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

To be under Track 7.10 Translational Issues in Tissue Engineering

The field of tissue engineering is beginning to offer new therapies for replacing and repairing damaged and diseased organs and tissues. This mini-symposium will cover translation applications for tissue engineering in a variety of tissues and organ systems. Talks will discuss potential up and coming therapies and specific issues with clinical translation. These include both cell based and biomaterial based therapies.

Title:

Assistive Technology for Human Communication

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Cara E. Stepp (University of Washington)

Room: St. George AB
Floor , Westin

Abstract

Although technology is often applied to assist individuals with
disability with tasks of daily living and mobility, an often
overlooked function is the distinctly human ability to communicate.
Many individuals with serious impediments of speech, language, and
social interaction struggle every day with the simplest of
communication tasks. This special session will focus on
state-of-the-art technology aimed to assist a variety of communication
disorders: amputation of speech anatomy, neuromotor speech impairment,
paralysis, and social communication disorders.

Title:

Robot-Aided Surgery

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Gregory S. Fischer (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Room: St. George CD
Floor , Westin

Abstract

As the field of medical robotics evolves, new techniques and technologies enable breakthroughs in the capabilities of next generation systems. In this session, we intend to bring together innovators in new techniques for modeling, analysis, and control of medical robotic systems. The focus of the workshop is to discuss the new technological breakthroughs in a multi-disciplinary forum where these concepts may be merged with or integrated into other technologies to expedite developing clinical systems. The purpose is to create a venue where these new ideas can be coupled with innovation in enabling technologies for image-guided robotic surgery and to help foster a sense of community among a wide variety of researchers to help take these concepts and core technologies from the lab to the clinic.

Title:

Innovative technology assisting children with Cerebral Palsy

8:00 am - 12:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Deborah Gaebler-Spira (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

The use of robotics in children with cerebral Palsy is employed in rehabilitaion to address body structure and function as well as activity and participation levels of outcome. Children with cp have deficits that include hypertonia, weakness, loss of selective motor control , balance as well as secondary deficits of poor alignment, poor endurance which lead to reduced particpation. Devising ways to engage with virtual reality the child and to therapeutically improve range of motion, strengthening and selective motor control with robotics improves the cild's condition as well as our understanding through quantification of the deficits. This 1/2 day workshop explores the various robotics that are innovative and address body structure and function for children with cp as well as the activities. Intelligent stretching and Lokomat for gait will be featured. Researchers and clinicans will interact in the discussion of the benifits of robotics in treatments for children with cp.

Title:

Advanced technologies for human movement analysis

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Claudia Mazzà (Department of human movement and sports sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico")

Room: St. George CD
Floor , Westin

Abstract

The acquisition of information about the mechanics of the musculo-skeletal system during the execution of a motor task is the main goal of human movement analysis.
Kinematic quantities are acquired using the so-named motion capture systems. Among the latter measurement devices, the most frequently used are the video-based optoelectronic systems. They allow the reconstruction of the trajectories of markers located on the subject’s skin and, through mathematical modelling, of the pose of the bones of interest. The major limitations associated with these systems are high costs, complex experimental procedures, and reliability and repeatability issues relevant to marker placement.
Markerless systems, based on conventional video cameras, have been proposed as a more economic alternative. These techniques allow to reduce the time for setup preparation, and to eliminate inter-operator variability, since no specialized operator is needed to place markers on the skin. To limit computational costs, markerless data are generally associated with very simplified models of the human body, which reduce their potentiality for biomechanical or clinical applications.
Both previous approaches allow for a limited measurement volume. A possible alternative is the use of systems based on miniature inertial and magnetic sensors, including a three-dimensional linear accelerometer, angular rate sensor, and a magnetometer. Body segment pose data are obtained through time integration. These sensors are certainly low cost and easy to use, but their effectiveness is limited by possible alteration of the sensor calibration parameters and by ferromagnetic disturbances in the vicinity of the device.
The state of the art, pros and cons of the above-mentioned systems will be illustrated by three experts of the field. The objectives of the discussion are to clarify the domains within which each of these technologies find a suitable application and to provide guidelines for a roadmap for future investments and developments for each of them.

Title:

Exoskeletons for Functional Training

11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Sunil Agrawal (University of Delaware)

Room: Tremont
Floor 1, Marriott

Abstract

This symposium will focus on passive and active exoskeletons in the training of functional movements of neurally impaired subjects. Lower extremity exoskeletons, such as ALEX I/II, GBO, SUE, will be discussed and compared in the training of stroke subjects. Upper extremity exoskeletons such as passive and active WREX will be outlined and compared. New approaches for cable based exoskeletons will be presented and compared with other exoskeletal designs.

Title:

Robot-assisted training in sports: not requested or too challenging?

11:15 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 03 2011

Organizers: 

Peter Wolf (Sensory-Motor Systems Lab, ETH Zurich )

Emanuele Ruffaldi (uola Superiore S.Anna)

Room: St. George CD
Floor , Westin

Abstract

To investigate the benefit of haptic feedback on motor learning, a diversity of robots has been applied in basic research. Many researcher have also focused on robot-assisted rehabilitation. However, sport simulations incorporating realistic haptic interaction have rarely been developed, and experiments on the benefit of haptic feedback in sports have almost not been done. Is robot-assisted training in sports not requested? Or, are the demands on robot-assisted training in sports too challenging for engineers?

The proposed Mini Symposium will at first outline the need of haptic feedback on learning a complex motor task. The benefit of sport simulators such as repeatable training in a safe and adjustable environment will be elaborated. Then, the requirements on a sport simulator will be exemplified for rowing. These requirements have been considered in two, independently from each other developed, rowing simulators. The technical performance of these simulators will be presented by the different research groups, discussing both realism of motion and training capabilities Sport simulators incorporating haptic interaction can not only display reality but also provide haptic feedback strategies enhancing motor learning. This latter feature will also be discussed and again, exemplified for rowing.

The proposed Mini Symposium is intended to attract researcher of health science linked to sports as well as engineers seeking for new challenges in the field of human-robot interaction. We would like to discuss the impact of interactive robots in sports, the related requirements, and currently available and future technical solutions to provide robot-assisted training in sports.

Title:

Disruptive Innovation in patient self-management and empowerment

2:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Prof. Maria Teresa Arredondo (Life Supporting Technologies- Technical University of Madrid)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Registration required

List of Speakers (in alphabetical order)

1. Maria Teresa Arredondo: "Mobile systems as a challenge for neurological diseases management"
2. Joe Gorman: "UniversAAL: A project to help technologists provide solutions that allow old people to live longer in their own homes"
3. Viveca Jiménez-Mixco: "Innovative eHealth services for the elderly at home and on the move"
4. Juan Carlos Naranjo: "Collaborative services for home healthcare and well being of elderly people"
5. Enzo Pasquale Scilingo: "A new approach to mental diseases through personalized monitoring systems: PSYCHE"
6. Javier Colás Fustero: "The role of innovation in medical technology in the efficient (re)design of clinical processes."

Abstract

The role of self-care in the management of long term conditions is crucial for effective high quality health care of patients. More and more, patients with chronic diseases and elderly people that need continuous health surveillance are able to live in their own home and surroundings with help from relatives and health professionals. In order to enable the patient to receive a preventative home based self empowered care, a complete system must be provided; it must help them to manage and monitor their daily health status, and needs to be connected to the professional medical system at the hospital and medical professionals. This concept that involves the actions taken towards the possibility of not being continuously attached to the hospital environment is often called "patient empowerment". It implies a re-distribution of power between patients and physicians and therefore an increase of the individual patients' autonomy to make informed decisions and personally handle their disease for their own health and well being.

Different levels of empowerment can be defined, depending on the patient's expectations, ranging from simply providing information, to giving full control over all medical decision-making. In any case, empirical evidence suggests that active patient participation in health care is related to better patient outcomes.

The Europe Union is investing thoroughly in this sense for the research and development of new healthcare technologies to help empower the patients so that they meet their social, emotional and psychological needs, take care for their long-term condition, and prevent further illness or accidents. The workshop "Disruptive Innovation in patient self-management and empowerment" will set an open discussion about the initiatives adopted in the framework of the current most relevant European funded projects around this concept. The aim of this multidisciplinary workshop is to analyse various aspects about solutions for making the self-care and patient empowerment an effective tool for the management of long term conditions. We will try to answer to the challenges how to select, compose, and generate empowerment content; how to give feedback to the user; how to promote compliance in self-care management; what are the characteristics of an effective self-management system, its content, and technology; how does patient empowerment create business and value; how can it be integrated into business processes and strategies; and finally, what is the future of patient empowerment. The presentations and discussions at this workshop will identify relevant technologies, opportunities for cooperation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and software solutions to facilitate the improvement of solutions in Europe and throughout the developing world. It is conceived mainly as an invitation workshop, where experts from industry and research specialized in e-health and e-inclusion will be brought together to give their statements on the topics mentioned. Also, we encourage creative thinkers coming from technology, human-computer interaction, and social sciences to participate in the discussion and provide innovative ideas to sketch the future of patient empowerment.

Title:

Cell membrane electroporation and electroporation based therapies

12:08 am - 12:09 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Damijan Miklavcic (University of Ljubljana)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

When a cell is exposed to a sufficiently intense but short electric field, permeability of its membrane is increased. This allows molecules that otherwise are deprived of membrane transport mechanisms to enter the cell. If the parameters of the field are increased (pulse number, duration of pulses and amplitude of the field), the pulses lead to cell death. On the other hand, if the pulses are made extremely short (ns) the membranes of cell organelles are also electroporated, which leads to apoptosis in vivo and offers unique possibilities for manipulating inner structures of the cell.

Even though the exact molecular mechanisms of electroporation are yet fully elucidated, several therapies, e.g. electrochemotherapy, gene electrotransfer for gene therapy and DNA vaccination, as well as nonthermal tissue ablation, have been developed and are being increasingly used in clinical setting. Electrochemotherapy is currently used in daily clinical practice for treatment of superficial tumor nodules in more than 80 clinical centers around Europe. By combining cancer drugs such as bleomycin or cisplatinum with short high voltage electric pulses, electrochemotherapy achieves approximately 80% complete responses irrespective of histological type of the tumor. Recently, the first deep-seated tumors were treated by needle electrodes for which however treatment planning is necessary.

Electroporation gene transfer for gene therapy and DNA vaccination is increasing its efficacy and interest as the mechanisms of DNA transport are being elucidated. Several clinical trials are active and promising results are being reported. If the parameters of electric pulses are increased the cell plasma membrane changes are leading to cell damage resulting in cell death. Irreversible electroporation has been demonstrated in prostate, liver and brain in vivo and in patients as a nonthermal ablation technique that can be used to cause cell death while preserving tissue scaffold, which facilitates greatly tissue healing after the ablation.

Title:

Extending the Benefits of Virtual Reality to Rehabilitation through Technology and Methodology Combinations

12:11 am - 12:12 am
Wednesday, Aug 31 2011

Organizers: 

Emily Keshner (Temple University)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Recent developments in interactive media are bringing low cost, adaptive interactive rehabilitation at the home and the clinic within our reach. Low cost easy to use, embodied controllers (i.e. kinect), advanced computational analysis techniques, multimodal immersive environments and serious games with intrinsic reward value, and wearable technologies with minimal energy needs are readily available to the rehabilitation researchers and clinicians. This seminar will discuss the benefits of combining these resources with current and other innovative rehabilitation technologies and methodologies. The seminar will discuss how the combinations of science, engineering and arts expertise can lead to development of interactive rehabilitation environments with intrinsic reward value that promote active, adaptive learning. We will discuss how combinations of augmented visual (VR), vestibular (GVS), and haptic stimuli can be used with digital and physical media to facilitate transference of learning in virtual reality to daily physical activity. We will show how kinematics extracted from motion capture data and brain activity patterns captured through EEG can be used to monitor and adapt therapeutic interventions at multiple time frames. We will discuss how computational extraction of correlations between kinematic and clinical measures can produce impairment and disability assessment. We will show innovative techniques for dynamical analysis of scalp EEG that help overcome some of the limitations of EEG and allow for affordable, real time brain monitoring during therapy. Our examples will focus on stroke and TBI rehabilitation but the techniques discussed can be generalized to many neurorehabilitation contexts.

Title:

Recent advances in extra-laboratory clinical gait analysis using ambient or on body sensing approaches.

5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Friday, Sep 02 2011

Organizers: 

Brian Caulfield (University College Dublin)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Quantitative measurement of gait is a valuable tool in clinical practice. Many studies have demonstrated that it can be used to discriminate presence of specific gait deviations associated with injury and disease, predict risk of falling, and quantify improvements due to rehabilitation. However, gait analysis has traditionally involved the use of expensive laboratory based motion capture systems that require skilled personnel for implementation and data processing. Therefore it is still regarded as a niche area and its use is not as widespread as could be expected if it was more accessible from a financial point of view. Recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of researchers seeking to develop novel approaches to performing gait analysis outside of the expensive laboratory environment. These new approaches, usually based on either on body or ambient sensing techniques, are starting to yield promising results and suggest that valid and reliable solutions for low cost clinical gait analysis are just around the corner. This session will bring together leading researchers in the field to present current findings on new gait analysis techniques, with a particular focus on clinical studies.

Title:

Psycho behavioral monitoring and cyber therapy in mental disorders

12:17 am - 12:18 am
Wednesday, Nov 30 -0001

Organizers: 

Rita Paradiso (Smartex srl)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Will be send soon

Title:

Novel clinical applications for non-invasive electrical stimulation

11:15 am - 11:45 am
Thursday, Sep 01 2011

Organizers: 

Brian Caulfield (TRIL Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland)

Room: Dartmouth
Floor 3, Marriott

Abstract

Electrical stimulation has been used in health and sport for many decades, primarily for pain modulation and in reeducation/strengthening of muscle in orthopedic and neurological applications. There have been significant advances over the years in development of implanted stimulation technologies but surface electrical stimulation has remained largely stagnant until quite recently. We are now seeing a large increase in the scope of clinical applications of surface electrical stimulation for therapeutic gain as well as significant advances in our understanding of the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle function. Researchers are directing efforts towards development of novel strategies for sharing complex shaped pulses between electrode arrays arranged around limbs rather than the traditional approach of sharing standard pulses between pairs of electrodes that has dominated practice over the past 30-40 years. New studies are also giving us greater insights into the effects of electrical stimulation on muscle physiology and metabolism, leading to the possibility that it might play an important role in treatment of metabolic disease. We are also seeing electrical stimulation being applied to promotion of cardiovascular exercise in a range of clinical populations and new garment based application methodologies that are greatly improving the convenience of electrical stimulation for the patient. This session will provide an overview of recent developments in the areas outlined above, focusing on the clinical implications of new research findings.