Neural engineering and rehabilitation research applies neuroscience and engineering methods to analyze central and peripheral nervous system function and to design clinical solutions for neurological disorders or injury. Through the application of basic science and engineering techniques, neural engineers develop methods to analyze and control the nervous system and associated organ systems.
Research in neural engineering at Case Western Reserve University is bolstered through collaboration and proximity to world-class healthcare facilities. Faculty, research associates and students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering work in three national centers of education and research in neural engineering and rehabilitation. Our research teams collaborate with four local major medical facilities: MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering has ongoing research and applications in neural engineering and rehabilitation in several areas that allow our team to move ideas from basic science through experimental testing to clinical deployment. These areas include:
Neuromodulation 鈥� Clinical and experimental technologies for treating and managing consequences of stroke, epilepsy, pain, spinal cord injury, genitourinary function, movement disorders, autonomic functions and psychiatric disorders.
Prosthetics and Orthotics 鈥� Implanted devices to directly communicate with the nervous system functions for the control of assistive technologies, as well as provide sensory feedback in amputee prosthetics.
Neural Interfaces 鈥� Design of both stimulating and recording electrode technologies for interfacing with the nervous system. In the central nervous system, research is focused on brain computer interfaces and deep brain stimulation to restore function in patients with neurological disorders, such as paralysis. In the peripheral nervous system, novel interfacing technology targets small somatic and autonomic nerves.
Neural and Biomechanical Computation 鈥� The use of computational models to simulate the dynamics of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system during movement in order to gain insight into the underlying neural and biomechanical processes. These models are used to develop new treatments and interventions for nervous system disorders disorders, as well as to design more effective prosthetics and other assistive technologies.
Computational tools are also applied to develop and understand neural circuit function and dynamics.
Affiliated Labs and Centers
Faculty
Abhinav Acharya, PhD
Elmer Lincoln Lindseth Associate Professor in Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: [email protected]
Abidemi Bolu Ajiboye, PhD
Faculty Director of Postdoctoral AffairsOffice of Faculty Advancement and Postdoctoral AffairsAssociate ChairCase School of EngineeringExecutive Vice ChairCase School of EngineeringRobert & Brenda Aiken Professor of Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.6814
Jeffrey Capadona, PhD
Vice Provost for InnovationDonnell Institute Professor of Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicinePrincipal InvestigatorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCapadona LabSenior Research Career ScientistLouis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical CenterEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.5486
Patrick Crago, PhD
Professor EmeritusDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Dominique M. Durand, PhD
DirectorNeural Engineering CenterCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineAssociate ChairCase School of EngineeringElmer Lincoln Lindseth Professor in Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of NeurosciencesSchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Physiology and BiophysicsSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3974
Emily Graczyk, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.5182
Kenneth J. Gustafson, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.8626
Ana G. Hernandez Reynoso, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Michael Jenkins, PhD
ProfessorBiomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: [email protected]
Robert Kirsch, PhD
ChairDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineExecutive DirectorCleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation CenterAllen H. and Constance T. Ford ProfessorProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3158
Michael Moffitt, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Luke Osborn, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
P. Hunter Peckham, PhD
Distinguished Professor EmeritusDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineAssociate Director of Technology TransferDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCleveland FES CenterEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.778.3480
Christopher Pulliam, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3138
Andrew Shoffstall, PhD
Associate ChairGraduate Education CommitteeCase School of EngineeringNord Distinguished Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.1213
Ronald J. Triolo, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of Engineering, School of MedicineExecutive DirectorAdvanced Platform Technology Center of the Department of Veterans AffairsEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.791.3800
Dustin Tyler, PhD
DirectorHuman FusionsDirectorFunctional Neural Interface LabAssociate DirectorCleveland Advanced Platform for TechnologyArthur S. Holden ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.0319
Matthew Williams, PhD
Associate ChairAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Research Faculty
Musa Audu
Research ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.543.5082
Chia-Chu Chiang
Research Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3580
Allison Hess-Dunning, PhD
Research Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineResearch InvestigatorDepartment of Veterans AffairsLouis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterEmail: [email protected]
Grant McCallum
Research Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringNeural Engineering CenterCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.6962
Anandakumar Shunmugavel, PhD
Research Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3135
Affiliated Faculty
John Chae, MD
ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringNeural Engineering CenterCase School of EngineeringVice PresidentResearch and Sponsored ProgramsMetroHealth SystemCo-DirectorMetroHealth Rehabilitation InstituteMetroHealth SystemProfessor and ChairDepartment of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationMetroHealth SystemSchool of MedicineEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.957.3623
Hillel Chiel, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of BiologyCollege of Arts and SciencesProfessorDepartment of NeurosciencesSchool of MedicineProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCase School of EngineeringProfessorNeural Engineering CenterCase School of EngineeringEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.368.3846
Michael Jenkins, PhD
ProfessorBiomedical EngineeringSchool of MedicineMemberCancer Imaging ProgramCase Comprehensive Cancer CenterEmail: [email protected]
Kevin Kilgore, PhD
ProfessorDepartment of OrthopaedicsDepartment of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationMetroHealth Medical CenterSchool of MedicineStaff ScientistDepartment of OrthopaedicsDepartment of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationMetroHealth Medical CenterBiomedical EngineerResearch ServicesLouis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical CenterInvestigatorCleveland FES CenterEmail: [email protected]
Phone: 216.778.3801
Dawn Taylor, PhD
Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve UniversityEmail: [email protected]