This award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and post baccalaureate and postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research.
Congratulations to U-M BME graduate students Gianna Paier and Yucheng (Jacky) Tian on receiving the Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA) from the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) in conjunction with the organization’s annual conference. The SfN event is the largest organization of scientists and physicians in the world, with 30,000 attendees annually. This year, SfN is happening in Chicago from October 5 through 9.
The TPDA recognizes undergraduate and graduate students and post baccalaureate and postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research.
Paier’s project title is “Novel approach for enhancing signal recovery during stimulation.” This work introduces FPClipre, a novel front-end to effectively reduce artifacts and recover electrophysiological signals post-stimulation, enhancing temporal and spatial acuity in neuromodulation-based therapies. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) faces challenges in recovering viable electrophysiology due to stimulation artifacts and limited electrode contacts.
Tian’s project title is “Development of Bionic Exoskeleton Control via the Muscle Cuff-Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (MC-RPNI).” In this work, his team developed the MC-RPNI in a rat model, which is a novel surgical construct/procedure to provide improved motor signals for advanced exoskeleton control. The MC-RPNI serves as a bioamplifier for the peripheral nerve signals, which is essential for decoding motor intent and ultimately exoskeleton control for individuals with motor impairments such as foot drop.
Paier’s Ph.D. advisor is Dr. Enrico Opri. Tian’s BME Ph.D. advisors are Dr. Stephen Kemp and Dr. Paul Cederna. Dr. Cynthia Chestek (also Tian’s BME PhD co-advisor) and Dr. Brent Gillespie are his other advisors on this particular project. “It’s a huge, incredible multidisciplinary team,” Tian added. “Dr. Stephen Kemp is a neuroscientist, Dr. Paul Cederna is a plastic surgeon, Dr. Cynthia Chestek is a biomedical/electrical engineer, and Dr. Brent Gillespie is a mechanical engineer.”