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Premier conference on neurotechnology and deep brain stimulation to be held in Cleveland June 16-18

Conference being held outside of Washington, D.C., for the first time

CLEVELAND – Is it possible to restore function to a paralyzed limb? Or to control the tremors caused by Parkinson's disease? These are two of the several topics that will be presented at the Neural Interfaces Conference, June 16-18, hosted by Case Western Reserve University. The conference will be held at the InterContinental Hotel and Bank of America Conference Center in Cleveland.

"Neural interfaces have already provided substantive benefits to many individuals. This conference will feature presentations from the most distinguished researchers in the field and will give participants the opportunity to share with each other the latest technological advances," said P. Hunter Peckham, Donnell Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopedics at Case Western Reserve and executive director of the Cleveland FES Center.

In addition, in the 38-year history of this conference, previously known as the Neural Interfaces Workshop, Peckham notes that this is the first time the location has been moved outside of the Washington, D.C., area. Case Western Reserve was awarded a grant from the NIH to organize the conference.

"Hunter Peckham and his university colleagues are recognized internationally for their leadership in advancing this technology and improving people's lives," said Case Western Reserve President Barbara R. Snyder. "They are part of a larger local community distinguished for its research in this field, and we look forward to sharing greater Cleveland's many strengths with visiting scholars and students next week."

The neural interfaces research community consists of research investigators, supported by grants or contracts, who are working in areas that include functional neuromuscular/electrical stimulation auditory prosthesis, cortical prosthesis, neuromodulation, microelectrode array technology, brain computer/machine interfaces and other related areas. Conference attendance will be from a diverse international group representing the basic and applied science aspects of neural interfaces. Advances in the field will be offered through live presentations, poster sessions, panel discussions and patient demonstrations.

Neural interfaces are systems operating at the intersection of the nervous system and an internal device (i.e., cochlear implant for the deaf, deep brain stimulation [DBS] for Parkinson's). Neural interfaces are used to enable individuals the ability to control their own bodies and lead fuller and more productive lives.

For a description of the speakers and contents of the conference agenda, visit the conference's web site, http://www.neuralinterfaces2008.com.

About Case Western Reserve University

Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.

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