Meeting the Grand Challenges of Neural Engineering, Together

Advanced neurostimulation therapies. Cutting-edge biomaterials for stroke recovery. High-resolution brain imaging technologies. These were just a few of the topics discussed during the inaugural Neural Engineering Symposium hosted by Duke University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Duke University Medical Center. The day-long event, officially titled “Meeting the Grand Challenges of Neural Engineering and Neurotechnology,” brought together more than 200 researchers, clinicians, students and industry leaders to highlight the impactful and collaborative efforts of neural engineers and neuroscientists across Duke’s campus.

“This symposium is intended to bring together the Duke neural engineering community and promote communication and collaboration,” said Warren Grill, the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and organizer of the event. “We want our trainees to see and appreciate the diversity of investigators and the variety of research activities taking place at Duke, and we want to engage the whole community and identify opportunities for future growth.”

The day’s program reflected the breadth of expertise across Duke. During the morning session, researchers highlighted advances in brain mapping and disease characterization. Dan Ma, an associate professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering, presented research on quantitative MRI for precision brain mapping, while Tim Dunn, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, discussed how precisely measuring movement can improve studies of motor disorders, like Parkinson’s disease, or neuropsychiatric disorders, like autism spectrum disorders or schizophrenia.

Topics also expanded into the virtual world. Cameron McIntyre, a professor of biomedical engineering and neurosurgery, discussed his lab’s work to create detailed computational models and holographic visualization platforms, which enable researchers to see a patient’s brain in three dimensions. By integrating anatomical and electrical datasets into a common visualization environment, McIntyre and his team can direct physicians about the best locations to stimulate and record in the brain. Nanthia Suthana, a professor of neurosurgery, biomedical engineering and neurobiology, shared how her lab uses virtual reality technology to track physiological reactions for PTSD, compulsive behaviors, eating disorders and other neurologically based disorders. By simultaneously tracking physiological behaviors during an event, Suthana hopes to discover better ways to treat them. 

“When we can simulate these experiences and these behavioral and cognitive states, we can better understand the brain’s activity during these moments and develop therapies that can intervene,” Suthana explained.

The afternoon sessions emphasized the translation of neural engineering research into therapies and technologies that improve patient outcomes. Wayne Feng, the professor of neurology and biomedical engineering, presented on the development of neurotechnology for stroke recovery and the importance of considering implementation science from the outset. Tatiana Segura, professor of biomedical engineering, shared how her lab’s biomaterials could promote recovery by supporting the growth of new blood vessels in damaged areas, potentially limiting issues caused by strokes and other neurological events.

Faculty presentations concluded with a discussion of emerging technologies and the broader societal implications of neurotechnology. Jonathan Viventi, the Hawkins Family Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, showcased his lab’s high-density electrode arrays designed to provide unprecedented views of brain activity, offering new opportunities to study neural circuits. A talk by Nita Farahany, the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law, offered important perspective on the societal, ethical and legal impacts of increasingly sophisticated neurotechnologies by exploring the concept of cognitive liberty.

The symposium’s keynote address was delivered by Joseph O’Doherty, head of next-generation applications at Neuralink and a Duke Biomedical Engineering PhD alumnus. Drawing on his experience developing next-generation brain-computer interface technologies, O’Doherty discussed the evolving landscape of neurotechnology and the opportunities and challenges facing the field as it moves toward broader clinical applications. An alumnus of Duke BME’s PhD program, O’Doherty also spoke about his time at the university and the valuable mentorship he received from Duke faculty, notably Craig Henriquez, who served as the associate vice provost for faculty advancement and professor of biomedical engineering before his passing in 2023.

Throughout the day, poster sessions provided opportunities for trainees and researchers to share their work and build connections across disciplines. Those interactions reflected one of Duke’s greatest strengths: a highly collaborative research environment that extends well beyond any single department.

“The physical proximity between the engineering and medical schools really makes us unique and is a great strength of our programs,” said Grill. “Our work would be a lot harder if we couldn’t simply walk across the street and engage with people from other departments. It helps build intellectual momentum for both collaboration and translational work. We’re very lucky to have this community at Duke.”