Bioengineering
bioengineering
Silvio P. Sabatini
The position is a full-time PhD studentship for a period of 3 years, starting on Nov 1st, 2023. The research project is titled 'Early vision function in silico networks of LIF neurons'. The project aims to develop an 'artificial observer' composed of an active event-based camera feeding a neuromorphic multi-layer network of leaky integrate and fire (LIF) neurons. The system should provide the inference engines for relating visual representations to performance on perceptual judgement tasks. Multiple and varying parameters captured under complex, real-life conditions should be comparatively assessed in silicon and human observers. The research will be conducted at the Bioengineering/PSPC labs of DIBRIS.
Silvio P. Sabatini
The project aims to implement neuromorphic multi-layer networks of leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neurons in cascade to a motorized event-based camera (DAVIS, DVS, https://inivation.com/technology/), to obtain artificial replicas of the early stages of an active vision system. Testing the models will involve the assessment of multiple and varying parameters captured under real-life and adaptive conditions. At functional level, the system will (1) consider the neural resources required to account for a range of linear/nonlinear early visual processes, and (2) provide the inference engines for relating the resulting visual representations to performance on psychophysical tasks. The visual performance of the resulting silicon model will be comparatively assessed with that of a typical human observer. The objective is twofold: on the one hand, we contribute a deeper understanding of visual processes, especially about predicting how early computation may reverberate through the sensory pathways eventually contributing to functional vision. On the other hand, we contribute to the definition of a new generation of perceptual machines to be used in robotics and in general in newly developed Artificial Intelligence systems.
Lorenzo Fabrizi
Postdoc research fellow wanted to join a new collaborative research project at UCL's Medawar Pain and Somatosensory Labs, UCLH and Birkbeck BabyLab/ToddlerLab, led by Dr. Lorenzo Fabrizi, Dr. Judith Meek and Prof. Emily Jones. Investigate the connection between early sensory experiences and long-term sensory processing in preterm-born neonates and children. Use EEG and novel sensory testing to identify individuals at risk of sensory challenges. Collaborate with experts in preterm brain imaging and neurodevelopment.
Brain Emulation Challenge Workshop
Brain Emulation Challenge workshop will tackle cutting-edge topics such as ground-truthing for validation, leveraging artificial datasets generated from virtual brain tissue, and the transformative potential of virtual brain platforms, such as applied to the forthcoming Brain Emulation Challenge.
2nd In-Vitro 2D & 3D Neuronal Networks Summit
The event is open to everyone interested in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery, Disease Modeling, and Bio/Neuroengineering! This meeting is a platform bringing scientists from all over the world together and fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.
2nd In-Vitro 2D & 3D Neuronal Networks Summit
The event is open to everyone interested in Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery, Disease Modeling, and Bio/Neuroengineering! This meeting is a platform bringing scientists from all over the world together and fostering scientific exchange and collaboration.
In vitro bioelectronic models of the gut-brain axis
The human gut microbiome has emerged as a key player in the bidirectional communication of the gut-brain axis, affecting various aspects of homeostasis and pathophysiology. Until recently, the majority of studies that seek to explore the mechanisms underlying the microbiome-gut-brain axis cross-talk relied almost exclusively on animal models, and particularly gnotobiotic mice. Despite the great progress made with these models, various limitations, including ethical considerations and interspecies differences that limit the translatability of data to human systems, pushed researchers to seek for alternatives. Over the past decades, the field of in vitro modelling of tissues has experienced tremendous growth, thanks to advances in 3D cell biology, materials, science and bioengineering, pushing further the borders of our ability to more faithfully emulate the in vivo situation. Organ-on-chip technology and bioengineered tissues have emerged as highly promising alternatives to animal models for a wide range of applications. In this talk I’ll discuss our progress towards generating a complete platform of the human microbiota-gut-brain axis with integrated monitoring and sensing capabilities. Bringing together principles of materials science, tissue engineering, 3D cell biology and bioelectronics, we are building advanced models of the GI and the BBB /NVU, with real-time and label-free monitoring units adapted in the model architecture, towards a robust and more physiologically relevant human in vitro model, aiming to i) elucidate the role of microbiota in the gut-brain axis communication, ii) to study how diet and impaired microbiota profiles affect various (patho-)physiologies, and iii) to test personalised medicine approaches for disease modelling and drug testing.
The 2021 Annual Bioengineering Lecture + Bioinspired Guidance, Navigation and Control Symposium
Join the Department of Bioengineering on the 26th May at 9:00am for The 2021 Annual Bioengineering Lecture + Bioinspired Guidance, Navigation and Control Symposium. This year’s lecture speaker will be distinguished bioengineer and neuroscientist Professor Mandyam V. Srinivasan AM FRS, from the University of Queensland. Professor Srinivasan studies visual systems, particularly those of bees and birds. His research has revealed how flying insects negotiate narrow gaps, regulate the height and speed of flight, estimate distance flown, and orchestrate smooth landings. Apart from enhancing fundamental knowledge, these findings are leading to novel, biologically inspired approaches to the design of guidance systems for unmanned aerial vehicles with applications in the areas of surveillance, security and planetary exploration. Following Professor Srinivasan’s lecture will be the Bioinspired GNC Mini Symposium with guest speakers from Google Deepmind, Imperial College London, the University of Würzburg and the University of Konstanz giving talks on their research into autonomous robot navigation, neural mechanisms of compass orientation in insects and computational approaches to motor control.
Harnessing the CRISPR toolbox to engineer biology
Affordable Robots/Computer Systems to Identify, Assess, and Treat Impairment After Brain Injury
Non-traumatic brain injury due to stroke, cerebral palsy and HIV often result in serious long-term disability worldwide, affecting more than 150 million persons globally; with the majority of persons living in low and middle income countries. These diseases often result in varying levels of motor and cognitive impairment due to brain injury which then affects the person’s ability to complete activities of daily living and fully participate in society. Increasingly advanced technologies are being used to support identification, diagnosis, assessment, and therapy for patients with brain injury. Specifically, robot and mechatronic systems can provide patients, physicians and rehabilitation clinical providers with additional support to care for and improve the quality of life of children and adults with motor and cognitive impairment. This talk will provide a brief introduction to the area of rehabilitation robotics and, via case studies, illustrate how computer/technology-assisted rehabilitation systems can be developed and used to assess motor and cognitive impairment, detect early evidence of functional impairment, and augment therapy in high and low-resource settings.