As breakthroughs in basic biomedical science make their way from researchers’ labs to patients’ bedsides, the skills of engineers play an increasingly crucial role.
Engineers might help an otologic surgeon develop new diagnostic tools for imaging the bone-encased inner works of the ear, for example, or develop massively parallel testing structures that allow stem-cell researchers to identify chemical and microenvironmental factors that can reactivate a sensory neuron’s ability to replace itself. They might also develop new tools for drug delivery and brain-machine interfaces to restore hearing, sight or motor function in patients with neurological disorders.
These and other research projects were presented at the inaugural Bertarelli Neuroengineering Symposium at HMS on Oct. 28 and 29. Researchers from HMS and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, along with keynote speaker John Donoghue, a professor of neuroscience from Brown University, spoke about their work, including collaborations now underway between HMS and EPFL, to tackle these and other challenges.
This first scientific symposium is a key element of the Bertarelli Program’s educational goals. Launched in October of 2010, the program is a joint effort between HMS and EPFL, one of the premier European schools of engineering and science. The program aims to accelerate the pace of translating developments in the basic biomedical sciences, including genetics, biophysics and neurology, into improved health and quality of life for people with neurological disorders.
“In addition to our colleagues at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and at our affiliated hospitals,” said Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Jeffrey S. Flier in his welcoming remarks, “we at Harvard Medical School are fortunate to have collaborations like this, which allow us to take advantage of the unique skills of our colleagues around the world.”
Earlier in the week the Bertarelli Program in Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering announced the recipients of the Program’s inaugural round of research grants. Six projects were funded for a total of $3.6 million. Five of the projects focus on hearing loss; the sixth grant will explore the use of a combination of gene therapy, pharmaceutical and engineering tactics to restore the ability to walk in patients with spinal cord injuries.
Funding for the symposium was provided by the Bertarelli Foundation.
For more information, visit the Bertarelli Program website.
