SOMGEN 141Q: Can brains be repaired like cars or roads?
General Education Requirements
Course Description
Can brains be repaired just like cars or roads?
For decades the thought of enhancing brain plasticity or repair has been part of ideal medicine, but can we? To answer that question we need to dive into the world of NeuroEngineering. Understanding of the basics of synapse formation and neural network formation is critical when we talk about neural enhancement or neural repair/regeneration. NeuroEngineering is the field of science that applies neuroscience and engineering to understand, repair, enhance or replace the neurological system.
In this course we will study the nervous system, particularly focusing on the brain through the engineering lens. From the platform of the field of neuroscience where we look at synapses, neural network and memory formation, we’ll launch into the chemical, electrical and tissue engineering aspects of the brain. Using scholarly literature, we will study the latest advances in the NeuroEngineering and will examine how close we are to the dream of repairing the brain, perhaps even building a brain from scratch!
We will look at clinical studies, new research and latest technology in the field. Students will have the opportunity to study the Nervous System at the intersection of neuroscience and technology. They will learn the application of neuroscience and engineering used to repair or restore motion, hearing, vision and in some cases the brain’s ability to store memories or learn a new task.
We will also study the areas of NeuroEngineering that are lacking research or could benefit from innovation. Students will have the opportunity to debate possible solutions to current research problems and medical problems. As their final project, students will propose a study that could possibly improve the field of NeuroEngineering and possibly have medical application.
Meet the Instructor: Johana Carolina Vega Leonel
“I am a NeuroEngineer that loves to talk about this exciting field. Talking about my work/study often seems stranger than watching a sci-fi movie. I believe this interdisciplinary field (crossroads of neuroscience, electrical, chemical and tissue engineering) is our future and that we should all be aware of the latest advancements and how can we contribute to it, regardless of our area of expertise. After my Ph.D in NeuroEngineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I became a postdoctoral researcher in the Neurosurgery Department (Grant Lab) studying the neural network formation of human neurons on a Micro Electrode Array or what we call 'Brain-on-a-Chip.' I am passionate about solving many neurological diseases. They all have one thing in common. The answer to 'How to repair the network?' I hope in this course, I can provide you with a window into the world of possibilities and the inspiration to excite you about this amazing research field.”
