Event Date
The symposium will bring together neuroengineering faculty, physician-scientists, clinicians, students, postdocs and other researchers from engineering, medicine, neuroscience and other fields to share research results and network with like-minded researchers. Presenters include faculty, graduate students, and other trainees at UC Davis. Details about the poster session will be made available in the coming weeks.
Keynote speaker: NANTHIA SUTHANA, PHD
Professor of Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering
Duke University
Title:
Neural Dynamics of Memory and Navigation: From Naturalistic Behavior to New Therapies
Abstract:
Understanding how the human brain supports memory and navigation requires studying neural dynamics not only in the lab but also in the real world. In this talk, I will present our development of platforms that integrate intracranial recordings with wearable sensors and augmented/virtual reality, enabling the study of freely moving humans as they recall, imagine, and navigate through space. Using these approaches, we have uncovered hippocampal activity patterns that link memory to naturalistic behavior, and demonstrated how these dynamics can be tracked both in controlled laboratory tasks and during everyday experiences. Finally, I will discuss how these advances are informing new neuromodulation strategies, with early evidence that targeted stimulation of amygdala–hippocampal circuits can reduce symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, these innovations bring us closer to understanding the brain in its natural context and to developing therapies that translate neuroscience from lab to world and back again.
Bio:
Nanthia Suthana, PhD, is Professor of Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. She received her B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoctoral training and served on the faculty before joining Duke. Her research combines intracranial recordings, wearable sensors, and augmented/virtual reality to study the neural dynamics of memory, navigation, and emotion in freely moving humans. For this work, she received the McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award, as well as multiple grants from the NIH, Keck Foundation, and Simons foundation, to develop and use platforms that combine intracranial recordings with wearable devices to study real-world cognition and behavior.
Registration is closed.
Agenda
08:30 AM - 08:55 AM
Registration and Networking
09:00 AM - 09:10 AM
Welcome Remarks
Chancellor Gary May
09:10 AM - 09:20 AM
Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine – An Overview
Professor Jochen Ditterich
09:20 AM - 10:05 AM
Oral Presentations by Selected Trainees I
15 min each (12 min talk + 2 min Q&A, 1 min for transition to the next speaker)
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
Break & Group Picture
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Keynote presentation: Nanthia Suthana, PhD, Duke University
Nanthia Suthana, PhD
Abstract: Understanding how the brain supports memory and navigation requires studying neural activity not only in the laboratory but also in real-world environments. In this talk, I will present platforms that combine intracranial recordings with wearable sensors and augmented or virtual reality, enabling the study of freely moving individuals as they recall, imagine, and navigate through space. Using these tools, we have identified hippocampal activity patterns that link memory to natural behavior and can be tracked during both controlled tasks and everyday experiences. I will also discuss how these findings inform new neuromodulation strategies, including early evidence that targeted stimulation of amygdala–hippocampal circuits may reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These advances bring us closer to understanding the brain in natural contexts and developing therapies that translate neuroscience from lab to real-world applications.
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Oral Presentations by Selected Trainees II
15 min each (12 min talk + 2 min Q&A, 1 min for transition to the next speaker)
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch Buffet (Lunch Provided)
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Panel Discussion – AI in Neuroengineering
Chen-Nee Chuah, PhD, Xin Liu, PhD, Yubei Chen, PhD, Sergey Stavisky, PhD
This panel brings together researchers exploring how artificial intelligence is used in neuroengineering, neuroscience, and medicine. Panelists will briefly introduce their work and explain key concepts such as AI, Machine Learning (ML), Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), and Large Language Models (LLMs). The discussion will begin with a few guiding questions about what AI means across disciplines and its current role in research and healthcare, followed by an open Q&A with the audience.
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Poster Session
The event will include a student poster session showcasing research in neuroengineering and related fields. Students will submit abstracts in advance, which will be reviewed and organized by the event coordination team. Accepted posters will be scheduled into two presentation sessions to allow time for discussion. Faculty judges will review assigned abstracts beforehand and evaluate posters during the session using a standardized scoring system.
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Translational Neuroengineering Short Talks
Jonathan Calvert, PhD, Jie Zheng, PhD, Carina Renate Oehrn, M.D.,PhD
The program will feature a series of short presentations highlighting current research and advances in translational neuroengineering. Faculty speakers will present brief talks introducing their work, ongoing projects, and emerging applications at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and medicine. The session is designed to provide attendees with insight into innovative research directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
04:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Buffet Light Dinner
05:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Awards Ceremony
The event will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions and presentations. Awards will include recognition for program fellows, as well as prizes for exceptional oral and poster presentations. Selection of award recipients will be determined by the Steering Committee based on evaluations conducted during the poster and presentation review period.
05:30 PM - 05:40 PM
Closing Remarks
Karen Moxon, PhD
Questions? Send them via email to: [email protected]