New $8M grant from National Science Foundation to continue development of a fully implantable BCI system

Our research team has been awarded an $8M research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue our development on a fully implantable BCI system. The goals of this project will be to develop and test bi-directional (BD), electrocorticogram (ECoG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) system in people with paraplegia due to SCI. This system is …

Portable, low-cost, and open source brain-computer interface (BCI) [Arduino based system]

BCI research can become an expensive endeavor. The price point may be too high for researchers and even prospective patients to afford. In addition, many of the systems that are currently used in BCI research turn out to be bulky and complex. This makes it time consuming to set up, and may prohibit lay persons …

Media coverage of our research

Our recent publication, “The feasibility of a brain-computer interface functional electrical stimulation system for the restoration of overground walking after paraplegia,” received a significant media attention. Some of the coverage is summarized here.

Feasibility of a BCI-FES system for overground walking after spinal cord injury

Our study, entitled, “The feasibility of a brain-computer interface functional electrical stimulation system for the restoration of overground walking after paraplegia,” was recently published in the Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation. This study described how a man with T6 spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia was able to utilize his EEG signals to control a …

Study on the safety of a BCI-FES based physiotherapy published

http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/12/1/57 We recently completed a Phase I clinical trial which examined the safety of a BCI-FES system for dorsiflexion therapy in chronic stroke survivors. Applying the BCI-FES therapy not only appeared to be safe, but may also lead to an increase in gait velocity. Additional study will be necessary to examine the potential efficacy of …

Open Research Student Positions

The UCI Brain Computer Interface Lab has undergraduate and master level student researcher positions open in the below areas (research descriptions included): Mechanical Engineering: Students will be involved in the design of implantable enclosures for electronics. This includes the design and fabrication of titanium alloy enclosures to house implantable electronics for a brain-computer inteface system, …

First ever restoration of brain-controlled walking after paraplegia due to spinal cord injury

To the best of our knowledge, the UCI BCI Lab achieved the first ever restoration of brain-controlled walking after paraplegia due to spinal cord injury (SCI), as demonstrated in recent papers. Although our lab and the project has been underway for some time, its entire history is now documented here. These results were recently presented …

Major National Science Foundation Grant Awarded For BCI Hardware Development

Our collaborative research team, consisting of Dr. Payam Heydari (UCI EECS), Dr. Zoran Nenadic (UCI BME), Dr. Charles Liu, MD, PHD (Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Neurosurgery), and myself, have just been awarded a multi-PI grant from the National Science Foundation to initiate the initial steps of development of a fully implantable brain-computer interface system. The …