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From bioengineering to big bands, 911�� camps focus on well-being

sholla4 — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:12:05 +0000

From bioengineering to big bands, 911�� camps focus on well-being sholla4 Wed, 08/12/2026 - 16:12

Year-round, 911��'s colleges, centers, and labs are taking a people-first integrated approach to human health and well-being that advances science, develops talent, and strengthens communities. That includes the summer, when labs and studios open their doors for the community to learn how innovations in art and science can make our world a healthier place.

From bioengineering to big bands, these summer programs are teaching all ages that 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative solution of "improving human health, well-being, and preparedness" is about more than numbers in a medical chart.

BioE Buzz summer campers learn about bioengineering by testing exoskeletons and biomechanics while interacting with 911�� faculty and students .Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

BioE Buzz

In its third year, BioE Buzz introduces high school students to the greater field of bioengineering and groundbreaking research at 911��. Rising juniors and seniors get hands-on experience with bioengineering technologies like 3D printing and ultrasound, learn about nanofabrication and tissue engineering, meet faculty and researchers from the Department of Bioengineering, and compete as a team for a one-week internship in one of 911��'s research labs.

"We love when campers connect with one another over a shared passion for solving problems in biology and medicine," said Khadija Zaidi-Rashid, assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Computing and codirector of BioE Buzz camp.

This year's 24 campers designed cardiac stents, extracted collagen and created polymers from animal tissues, and controlled a hand prothesis with bio signals. They also got a taste of college life: eating in dining halls, touring facilities, and learning team-building at The Edge on the Science and Technology Campus. Current 911�� undergraduates and graduate students serve as coordinators, counselors, and teachers for the camp as well, so campers can see a full picture of what's possible at 911��.

"Whether our campers select a path in health policy, medical sciences, academic research, or entrepreneurship, they are all united in their passion for making a true impact on humanity," said Zaidi-Rashid.

AI in Health

A new camp for 2026, the AI in Health Camp introduces rising high school juniors and seniors to how artificial intelligence is used in health care and public health and how it can be designed and evaluated responsibly.

"The camp is designed to prepare the next generation to use AI responsibly to improve patient safety, expand access to reliable health information, and make the information more accessible and understandable through inclusive design," said Maria Uriyo, an associate professor in the College of Public Health. "By reaching high school students early, the camp helps them explore emerging careers at the intersection of AI, health care, and public health while contributing to a more inclusive future health workforce."

Over the course of one week, students build foundational skills in AI literacy, practicing user-centered and inclusive design and safe and responsible AI use through daily AI Maker Labs. Graduate students in the Department of Health Administration, Policy and Informatics coach campers through designing and building community health chatbots. On the last day of camp, students present their work at a student showcase.

"We want students to understand that AI can be a powerful tool for health, but it always needs human judgment, safety checks, and inclusive design to provide meaningful and responsible benefits," said Uriyo.

911�� Jazz Camp

Human health and well-being is more than a matter of science. "Jazz music is said to 'wash away the dust of life,' improve our mental agility, and help us discover our true selves," said John Kocur, an associate professor of jazz studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

911�� Jazz Camp has existed in various forms since 2005, with its current form in its fifth year. This year, 87 students attended to learn music theory, practice improvisation, work with master musicians, and perform. Each day ends with a concert by a professional musician. The goal: developing the creative capacity of each musician and immersing them in the culture so they can experience the benefits of jazz throughout their lives.

"We hope each student remembers what it feels like to express yourself through your instrument spontaneously while jamming along with others," said Kocur.

And at 911�� Jazz Camp, these experiences are open to all. This year's cohort included 12 adult students, demonstrating how finding wellness through music can be done at any age.

"This music has served vital roles of survival for over a century, and it still has many lessons to teach us about cooperation, personal expression, and peace," said Kocur. "Whether you are an experienced improviser or just getting started, the expert faculty will help you realize your potential and grow into the musician you want to become."

Roxy Coss, the Artist-in-Residence for the 2026 911�� Jazz Camp with faculty on the Center for the Arts stage, Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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National Institutes of Health Javits Award to bolster building the brain’s blueprint

Nathan Kahl — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:20:03 +0000

National Institutes of Health Javits Award to bolster building the brain’s blueprint Nathan Kahl Thu, 07/23/2026 - 14:20

The goal of Giorgio Ascoli’s three decades of research is to gain a more complete understanding of one of science's most complex systems: the human brain. And this year the 911�� professor of bioengineering and neuroscience received one of the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) most prestigious recognitions for established investigators.

Giorgio Ascoli. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Ascoli's long-running program was selected for an NIH Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award, providing seven years of support and additional funding to advance his research into the structure and function of the brain.

The award is especially significant for 911��, as Ascoli's is the first Javits Award recipient at the university. The award is reserved for a small number of exceptionally highly rated research proposals; the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the institute that supports Ascoli's research, only gives this distinction to a handful of grants each year.

Ascoli's proposal received a priority score in the top 3 percent of all applications reviewed. The Javits recognition converts Ascoli’s funding from what is categorized at NIH as an R01 grant—and which he has successfully renewed since 1999—into an R37, giving a longer timeline and more security. “Because there is a more extended time frame, it really gives the lab a chance to think longer term. I can now take research risks that I could not normally take.”

His work focuses on the intricate structures that allow nerve cells to communicate with one another. Unlike most cells in the body, neurons possess elaborate branching structures that extend from the cell body. These structures receive and transmit signals, creating vast networks through which the brain processes information.

Ascoli compares the structures to a blueprint. "If you're an engineer and you're given a machine and you want to understand how this machine works, the best thing that you can get is a blueprint," he said.

For decades, Ascoli's lab has charted the diversity and organization of these neuronal structures, creating quantitative models of the brain's cellular architecture. A central outcome of that work is NeuroMorpho.Org, a publicly accessible database that collects and standardizes data on the structure of neurons from research groups around the world.

“The impact of our research goes beyond the typical impact of a single lab, which is publications, discoveries, etc. This reaches out more broadly and with longer-term consequences for scientific research,” he said. Researchers worldwide contribute data, which are standardized, annotated, and made freely available for anyone to download, analyze, and use in computational models.

The Javits-supported research will build on that foundation by combining neuroinformatics, computational neuroscience, and the study of learning and memory. Ascoli and his team will use data-driven computational models to simulate brain networks and investigate how their structure supports the brain's ability to learn and retain information.

A particular focus is the hippocampus, a region of the brain closely associated with learning and memory. The work aims to better understand how the architecture of neural circuits contributes to different forms of memory, including conscious memories of events and experiences.

The research could help scientists make predictions about how the brain functions and then test those predictions experimentally. The approach also reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of modern neuroscience, bringing together biology, computer science, engineering, and data science.

“Never before has the neuroscience community had access to so much data and such mighty computational resources for analysis and modeling,” he said. “We are tantalizingly close to making exciting breakthroughs in the century-old quest to link neural architecture to cognitive function.”

The Javits Award will give Ascoli and his team additional time and resources to continue building his brain blueprint, one neuron and one connection at a time.

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911�� researcher develops an affordable helping hand for stroke recovery

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:25:34 +0000

911�� researcher develops an affordable helping hand for stroke recovery Nathan Kahl Tue, 07/14/2026 - 15:25

For millions of stroke survivors, something as simple as picking up a glass of water or holding a sandwich is a daily challenge. Quentin Sanders wants to make those moments easier through wearable robotic technology designed to restore hand function.

The 911�� assistant professor is developing a new generation of hand exoskeletons that may help people regain independence after stroke. His lab is testing wearable devices that amplify a user's remaining muscle activity, allowing them to open and close their hand more effectively while remaining affordable enough for broader use.

Sanders' prior work focused on lower-limb prosthetics. Photo by Ron Aria/Office of University Branding

The latest prototype resembles a lightweight glove that fits over the hand and upper arm. As users attempt to move their hand, the device detects their remaining muscle activity and assists the motion.

"We instruct them to try to open their hand," Sanders explained. "When they try to open their hand, we sense whatever residual activity they have, and then the exoskeleton amplifies that."

One version of the device seeks to use wearable ultrasound technology developed in collaboration with 911�� researcher Siddhartha Sikdar, a professor in the Department of Bioengineering and director of the Center for Medtech Innovation. The system will use wearable ultrasound sensors to monitor how muscles deform as they contract, translating those signals into movement. Another simpler version uses a button embedded in the glove that users press to control the device.

While brain-controlled devices remain the long-term aspiration for many in the field, Sanders is focused on a more practical solution that builds on the muscle activity people retain after a stroke. "I would say brain-controlled systems is kind of the holy grail. In my lab, we're going one level lower to see if we can use muscle activity to control it."

The need for better rehabilitation tools is growing. Sanders noted that roughly 800,000 people experience a stroke each year in the United States, while millions more live with its long-term effects. Advances in medicine mean more people survive strokes, but many struggle to access the lengthy rehabilitation needed to regain function.

"We're at this point where you're living a long life, but you have this need for rehab," Sanders said. "You need either consistent opportunities for movement or some type of device that can help improve your quality of life."

Commercial hand exoskeletons remain scarce in the United States, and many existing systems cost tens of thousands of dollars. Making the technology more affordable and accessible has become one of the driving goals of his research.

"You've got this large population of people who need these devices who aren't getting them," Sanders said. "I'm hoping we can make this kind of low-cost, accessible version that people can use to improve some aspect of their life."

Sanders is also working to broaden who can benefit from rehabilitation technologies. Many research studies enroll only patients who meet narrow eligibility criteria, leaving others without solutions tailored to their needs.

"I think that's the other breakthrough people are working on that my lab is working on," he said. "How can we make these devices work for a larger population?"

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911�� and Phase Inc. receive NSF grant to advance 3D-printed microfluidic technology

Martha Bushong — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 18:37:20 +0000

911�� and Phase Inc. receive NSF grant to advance 3D-printed microfluidic technology Martha Bushong Wed, 07/01/2026 - 14:37

911�� and Phase Inc. have received a National Science Foundation (NSF) STTR grant to advance a new generation of 3D-printed microfluidic devices that could help move the technologies from the research lab toward broader commercial and scientific use.

Ramin M. Hakami and Remi Veneziano. Photo provided

The project combines the expertise of College of Science Professor Ramin M. Hakami’s group in extracellular vesicle (EV) biology, and that of College of Engineering and Computing Associate Professor Remi Veneziano’s group in bioengineering and materials characterization, at 911�� with Phase’s vision to create an end-to-end, automated microfluidic platform that brings together custom device design, scalable 3D-printed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip manufacturing, and automated fluid handling. Specifically, this project leverages the microfluidic EV platform jointly developed and published by the Veneziano and Hakami groups.

Microfluidic devices use tiny channels to control small amounts of fluid and recreate environments on a cellular scale. They model human biology more realistically than flat cell cultures, making them important for drug discovery, disease research, and toxicology. Microfluidics are especially timely as the FDA has announced plans to phase out some animal testing requirements and encourage more human-relevant methods.

Today, producing complex PDMS microfluidic devices often requires cleanrooms, manual optimization, and repeated trial-and-error. The NSF-supported work is designed to reduce that bottleneck by using thermal and curing models to predict how PDMS will behave during printing, then optimize print parameters before a device is manufactured.

Photo provided

“This partnership helps us move one step closer to a fully automated, scalable microfluidic platform,” said Jeff Schultz, principal investigator and co-founder of Phase, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Our goal is to make microfluidic technology more reproducible and more accessible to researchers and companies working to develop better human-relevant models.”

911�� researchers will help characterize the printed devices for dimensional accuracy, surface quality, batch-to-batch consistency, and biological function. The team will also test a device designed to study EV function. EVs are nanoparticles that are released by cells and play critical roles in intercellular communication. They have been shown to carry important regulatory functions in various human diseases, such as cancer, infectious disease, and neurological disorders, and are also highly advantageous for use in drug delivery.

“Being able to rapidly and cost‑effectively prototype and fabricate custom microfluidic devices will significantly enhance our capacity to design relevant microphysiological systems and will help broaden access to this technology to many research laboratories” said Veneziano.

“Our microfluidic device empowers researchers to conduct functional EV studies with ease and under physiologically relevant conditions. Through our partnership with Phase to 3D print the chips, we will be able to deliver more reliable, cost-effective, and commercially viable tools to the EV scientific community,” said Hakami, co-director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research at 911��.

For Phase, the NSF grant builds on a growing base of support from federal and private sources. The company has already received more than $3.5 million in nondilutive funding, including support from the National Institutes of Health, the One North Carolina Small Business Program, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, NSF, and private-sector partners. Previous research partners include Harvard Medical School, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech.

By pairing 911��’s biological and engineering strengths with Phase’s manufacturing platform, the project is positioned to advance both scientific discovery and commercialization. The result could be a more reliable path for producing the microfluidic tools needed to support the next wave of biomedical research, organ-on-a-chip development, and human-centered bio-innovation.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness

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Graduation spotlight: Science as an act of care

Martha Bushong — Wed, 13 May 2026 11:40:35 +0000

Graduation spotlight: Science as an act of care Martha Bushong Wed, 05/13/2026 - 07:40

Zarin Musarrat Niladree remembers her pediatrician the way we remember someone who made us feel safe when we were scared. She was young, she was sick often, and he was kind.

“I want to be like him when I grow up,” she thought then. Four years at 911��’s College of Engineering and Computing gave her the scientific training to move toward that path.

Zarin Musarrat Niladree works in a lab at 911��. Photo provided.

Niladree graduates in May with a degree in bioengineering, pre-health concentration, and is on her way to medical school. The path ran through three research labs and one clarifying question she kept returning to: Who actually needs this, and does it work for them?

The answer felt most urgent in Professor Remi Veneziano’s lab, where she served as co-construction lead on a smart microneedle patch designed for patients with chronic wounds—elderly patients, people with disabilities, people managing wound care alone without reliable help. The patch used UV light to trigger targeted drug release at the wound site, sparing patients repeated invasive treatments. Niladree built the electrical system from the ground up: UV LED strips, an Arduino Nano, circuit boards she soldered and resoldered through months of setbacks, components that behaved differently assembled than they did on paper.

“It was not just building a device for the sake of building one,” she said. “We were trying to create something that could help people feel less overwhelmed by their own care.”

What the lab taught her was the distance between a working prototype and a patient who actually benefits from it—and how much stands between the two. That gap is what drew her toward the Dartmouth Water Filtration Project, where the engineering problem was inseparable from the community it was meant to serve.

She joined expecting to redesign a filter for communities in Guatemala. What the project actually taught her was harder to systematize: that engineering solutions deployed to real communities require humility before they require hardware. Safety concerns, sustainability questions, and guidance from faculty pushed the team away from a point-of-use filter toward broader water-system treatment. That pivot frustrated her at first, but then clarified something she carried forward.

“Just because we can design something does not automatically mean it is the best or safest solution,” she said. “Sometimes that means pausing, rethinking, and choosing the option that is safer and more useful for the people who will actually use it.”

Her role as a teaching assistant for BENG 360 Biomedical Imaging, a course she had struggled through, confirmed what her research had been building toward. She realized that helping a frustrated student finally understand a problem wasn’t so different from what she imagined doing in an examination room—meeting someone in their confusion, explaining clearly, making them feel less alone.

This orientation—science as a form of care, not just capability—is what she’s taking to medical school. The kind of physician she wants to become is already recognizable: the one who makes the patient feel safe.

What 911�� gave her was scientific fluency. What it kept showing her, through every lab and every student she taught, was that fluency alone was not enough.

Note: This story was written by Tiffany Boggs, Student Media, and edited by Chelsea Xu, UL Marketing and Communications. It was originally published on 911��'s University Life website.

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Imagining an imaging breakthrough

Nathan Kahl — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:08:24 +0000

Imagining an imaging breakthrough Nathan Kahl Mon, 04/27/2026 - 08:08

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Parag Chitnis

A research team at 911�� is working to move a promising medical imaging technology closer to real-world use, supported by a new grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC).

911�� researchers Parag Chitnis and Remi Veneziano. Photo provided

Associate Professor Remi Veneziano and Professor Parag Chitnis in the Department of Bioengineering received a Tier 2 VIPC award to advance the development of a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging. The two-year, $200,000 grant will support efforts to scale-up production and demonstrate that the material can be manufactured consistently for translation outside of a laboratory setting.

If successful, the work could provide a standardized, scalable contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging and expand its use across biomedical research.

Photoacoustic imaging combines light and ultrasound to visualize biological tissues. While the technique can detect naturally occurring molecules such as hemoglobin, it lacks widely available contrast agents that can target specific tissues or disease sites. As a result, researchers often create their own materials, which vary from lab to lab.

Veneziano began working on the problem about eight years ago with collaborators at 911��. His team focused on developing a contrast agent using indocyanine green, an FDA-approved dye. Instead of relying on complex chemical processes, the group created a method based on self-assembly, allowing the dye molecules to form aggregates with controlled size and surface properties.

“We figured out a method to control the size of the assembly without the need for complex chemistry,” Veneziano said. “When you reduce the chemicals and the number of steps, you make it easier for manufacturing and future approval or at least to make something safer.”

The team refined the process to the point where researchers in the lab can reliably produce aggregates with specific characteristics tailored for specific applications. Early funding, including a previous VIPC Tier 1 award and a university seed grant, supported initial development and validation. The group published its findings in 2023 and began building collaborations with other researchers.

A key step in the work involved combining standard indocyanine green dye molecules with modified versions of this dye that allow for additional functionality, such as targeting specific cells or adding other fluorescent molecules. That approach helped turn the material into a more flexible platform that can be adapted for different research needs.

The current grant focuses on what Veneziano described as the transition from a “lab product” to something that could be used more broadly. That includes demonstrating reproducibility across batches, establishing quality control standards, and determining how long the material can be stored without losing effectiveness.

“When you want to commercialize a product, you need to demonstrate reproducibility and quality control,” he said. “From one batch to another batch, you always want the same properties.”

Veneziano and his collaborators are also working with 911��’s Office of Technology Transfer and filed a patent application related to the technology. The team founded a start-up, NanOptical Biomedical Inc., to pursue commercialization, and the team plans to seek additional funding through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

At the same time, the research continues to evolve. The team is working with collaborators to adapt the platform for different applications, including adding fluorescent capabilities and improving targeting for specific diseases. “We are at a stage where we are learning from them, from their experience, from what they need, how to make our particle better,” Veneziano said.

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Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game

sholla4 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:52:28 +0000

Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game sholla4 Tue, 03/03/2026 - 12:52

To be an NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, you need a village. From dieticians to strength trainers to physical therapists, developing and maintaining fitness for elite competition is a collaborative effort. One way that 911�� Intercollegiate Athletics and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) keep our athletes in top form is through evidence-based practices and science. That's where the Patriot Performance Lab comes in.

Erica King, right, works with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

The Patriot Performance Lab’s role is twofold: They monitor and measure athletes’ health as well as conduct research studies on athlete performance. Over the years, they’ve conducted numerous studies with various D1 teams—such as testing vitamin D levels in basketball players and knee joint adaptations in volleyball players—while providing athletes with critical data on their health metrics like body composition, VO2 Max, strength measurements, and more.

Margaret Jones. Photo by John Boal Photography.

“We’re not just a research lab,” emphasized Margaret Jones, professor in CEHD’s Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management Division and director of the Patriot Performance Lab. “Providing health services to athletes is also critical. It’s what makes the partnership work.”

Strong science communication skills are essential in this field. Researchers need to be able to translate data and results to coaches and student-athletes so they can adjust and improve. Chris Green, professor of sport management and director of the Center for Sport Management, works with the lab to help staff develop research communication skills.

“It’s relatively new to consider sports management in sports science,” she said. “The field as a whole is starting to ask how we can make good management decisions around athlete health and performance data. But the Patriot Performance Lab is already doing this work. It’s one of the things that makes us unique, and it’s what makes our work impactful.”

Green has been essential, Jones said, in helping lab members develop their communication skills and better understand how information is being shared from researchers to coaches to athletes.

“When they understand why I’m asking them to wear or do something and understand how this will benefit them, they’re more likely to perform at the level required in order for us to get good data,” said Noelle Saine, BS Kinesiology ’22, MS Kinesiology ’23, and a third-year PhD student. Saine, who was herself a student-athlete in track and field, understands the importance of strong communication between sport scientists and athletes.

“It’s establishing trust that what we’re doing will improve their health and performance,” said Jones.

Noelle Saine, right, runs a strength test with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Collaboration with the coaches and athletic trainers is also critical. “We couldn’t do what we do without them,” said Saine. “They see the benefits and importance of what we do.”

Postdoctoral research fellow Erica King, BS in Bioengineering ’21, PhD Bioengineering ’25 and a former student athlete in swim and dive, has been leading the work on knee joint adaptations since she was a graduate student. She led a recent 9-month study using wearable sensors for tracking load during practice, counter-movement jump testing, wearable and clinical ultrasound, MRIs, and surveys to assess the load demands on volleyball players’ knees.

“At the end of the season, we were able to show the coaching staff the average number of jumps athletes complete in a 15-16 week period and the direct effects of that from a joint adaptation standpoint,” she said. “They found that data really helpful, and now they can tailor practice sessions to better support the players and help alleviate strain that could lead to injury.”

Athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers often come to the lab with questions for study and ideas. A blood lactate study with the swim team last spring was requested by the swimmers, who applied for and received an Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) grant to fund the study. The team collected data from blood draws, heart-rate monitors, DEXA scans, and jump testing. Early review suggests athlete stroke specialization and maximal power generation capabilities significantly impact accumulation in blood lactate levels during all-out swim bouts.

Noelle Saine leads a VO2 Max test on a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

And as Saine and King can attest, the Patriot Performance Lab offers 911�� students the opportunity to do hands-on research in a wide range of fields. There are opportunities for all levels of research, from postdocs like King to high school students interested in exploring this world of research for the first time.

“Having that R1 designation really gives us the extra push to be able to dive deep into research,” said Saine. “Faculty have always encouraged me to find what I’m passionate about and pursue it. And my experience has been that instead of being competitive, everyone wants to work together to push forward and improve.”

Green noted that Jones’ experience as both researcher and practitioner is also an important piece of the puzzle that makes the Patriot Performance Lab work. “[Jones’] capacity to connect all these parts and have both credibility and an understanding of what the needs are sets us apart,” she said.

Jones said she appreciates the openness and willingness of people at 911�� to work together.“We’re supported on both sides by CEHD and Athletics.”

“The Patriot Performance Lab reflects what 911�� does best, bringing research and practice together in service of people,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of CEHD. “Our student-athletes are performing at the highest levels, and they deserve evidence-based support that protects their health and enhances their performance. This partnership between CEHD and Athletics ensures that science goes beyond the lab, to directly improve lives.”

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Brainpower inspires energy-efficient AI

tdonnel — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:57:20 +0000

Brainpower inspires energy-efficient AI tdonnel Thu, 01/22/2026 - 11:57

The key to energy-efficient artificial intelligence (AI) could lie in the human brain. 911�� researchers Maryam Parsa (PI) and Giorgio Ascoli (co-PI) are leading a Department of Energy-funded project to make AI dramatically more efficient by mimicking the brain’s computing strategies.

Maryam Parsa. Photo provided.

“AI today is powerful but extremely energy-hungry,” said Parsa, an assistant professor in George Mason’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering who specializes in neuromorphic computing. “We want to understand why the human brain is so efficient and why AI is not—and then bridge that gap.”

Unlike traditional AI models that rely on continuous signals and massive data centers, the brain uses sparse, event-driven signals called spikes.

“Any one neuron only fires a spike here and there, but the timing of those spikes carries a lot of meaning,” explained Ascoli, a Distinguished University Professor in 911��’s Bioengineering Department specializing in neuroscience. “That’s why the brain can do so much with so little energy.”

To replicate this efficiency holistically, Parsa and Ascoli teamed up with Akhilesh Jaiswal at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Pedram Khalili at Northwestern University. The team is building a full-stack neuromorphic computing system spanning devices, circuits, architectures, algorithms, and applications.

Each principal investigator is contributing specific expertise to the system:

Ascoli contributes neuroscience insights using Izhikevich models, mathematical frameworks that capture real neuron spiking dynamics, to inform system design.
Khalili develops spintronic devices, components that utilize magnetic materials to harness an electron's quantum properties of spin and charge for processing and storing data. By naturally exhibiting neuron-like temporal behavior, these devices are expected to reduce energy demands.
Jaiswal designs analog circuits to integrate these spintronic devices into functional architectures.
Parsa leads the project as well as neuromorphic learning algorithms and application-level integration, exploring diverse learning approaches to optimize speed, precision, resiliency, privacy, and energy savings.

Giorgio Ascoli. Photo provided.

“Izhikevich models allow neuromorphic systems to mimic the timing, diversity, and variability of real neurons, enabling more brain-like learning and efficiency,” Ascoli said. His extensive experience with these models, including simulating hippocampal networks, provides the biological foundation for the project.

“Instead of forcing existing devices to mimic brain behavior, we asked: What if we leverage new devices that naturally exhibit these dynamics?” Parsa said. This approach ensures innovations at the hardware level align with biologically inspired algorithms, creating a cohesive system rather than isolated solutions.

By introducing greater biological complexity and leveraging novel spintronic devices, the team hopes to reduce AI’s energy footprint while improving performance metrics such as accuracy and privacy. Early results are promising; even simple changes to spike distributions improved privacy without sacrificing accuracy.

The research also explores learning algorithms beyond the traditional. “Our goal is to see how different neuron models and learning rules interact and which combinations optimize for speed, precision, or energy savings,” Parsa said.

Ultimately, the project could transform AI by making it greener and more brain-like. “If we succeed, we’ll have systems that learn faster, consume less power, and operate more like the brain,” said Ascoli.

“This is not just about making AI more efficient,” said Parsa. “It’s about rethinking computing from the ground up."

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Printing play: A path forward for children with prosthetics

Nathan Kahl — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:32:50 +0000

Printing play: A path forward for children with prosthetics Nathan Kahl Thu, 01/15/2026 - 08:32

A child who uses a lower-limb prosthesis faces unique challenges when it comes to activities most children take for granted, such as running and being active. Without access to a prosthetic device designed to support these movements, children may miss out not only on the simple joys of play, but also on critical opportunities for physical development during key stages of growth.

Quentin Sanders. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

911�� researcher Quentin Sanders is part of a collaborative research team working to make high-performance prosthetic limbs more affordable, accessible, and better tailored to the needs of active children. Sanders, along with Jonathon Schofield, an associate professor at the University of California, Davis, and Garrett Melenka, an associate professor at York University, received a three-year, $500K grant from the National Science Foundation to support the project, which began in September 2025.

Most standard foot or leg prostheses are built for basic walking, not for the kind of active movement that helps children develop strength, balance, and coordination, the benefits that come from running and jumping with friends.

“This limitation can be especially challenging for children,” said Sanders, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Kids want to run and play. When they can’t, they’re more likely to avoid physical activities, such as sports, or even stop using their prosthesis altogether.”

A 3D-printed running blade prototype, created using the technique Sanders and his colleagues are developing. Photo provided

Often seen in competitive events such as the Paralympic Games, running blades are curved, spring-like prosthetic feet made from carbon fiber that mimic the energy return of a biological foot. While these devices offer an alternative option to standard leg prostheses and can enable children to run, they are expensive and often inaccessible. A single running blade can cost several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars and is typically not covered by insurance because it is considered nonessential, rather than medically necessary.

Some charitable organizations help families access these devices, but demand far exceeds supply, and for growing children, one blade is rarely enough. “Kids grow quickly,” said Sanders. “As they get taller, they outgrow their prostheses, which means going through multiple blades over time.”

The research team has several goals, starting with identifying what children truly need from an activity-enabling prosthesis. The researchers are examining how motivation to be active, physical growth, and different types of movement influence prosthetic performance in everyday settings. “What do you use it for? What don’t you use it for? What do you wish you could do?” said Sanders.

The team is also analyzing how children move while using their current running blades, studying activities such as running, jumping, and changing direction to better understand the biomechanics and physical demands involved.

Finally, the team will take a close look at how today’s running blades perform under real-world demands. “We want to understand how stiff they are, how much load they can handle, and when they might fail,” said Sanders. “We can then combine that information with what kids tell us they want to do and use it to guide our 3D printing process—creating blades that are better suited for active play.”

Sanders and his collaborators are using an advanced additive manufacturing approach known as continuous-fiber 3D printing, in which carbon fibers are embedded within the printed plastic to reinforce the prosthetic structure. This method enables the creation of strong, lightweight devices that can be tailored to a child’s size, growth, and activity needs.

“By combining manufacturing, composite materials, prosthetics, design, and biomechanics, this project provides an innovative and holistic solution,” said Melenka.

The technique is already used to produce strong, lightweight components in the aerospace and automotive industries, but it has seen limited adoption in prosthetic design. This project represents one of the first efforts to apply it systematically to activity-enabling prostheses for children.

“What’s most exciting about this project is the collaboration across institutes, disciplines, and areas of expertise,” said Schofield. “We are bringing together researchers in movement mechanics, advanced materials manufacturing, and pediatric lower-limb prosthetic care. We are also incorporating the lived experience of children and families, along with clinicians who work with these patients every day.”

The work also has the potential for industry disruption, according to Sanders. “If we can show that a child’s physical measurements and movement needs can be translated into a digital model and then used to 3D print a customized prosthesis, existing prosthetic manufacturers would begin to integrate this approach into their production pipelines.”

For Sanders, the motivation goes beyond technical innovation. “I’ve always been interested in translating new technologies into real-world solutions,” he said. “Helping people with disabilities and impairments is why I got into this field in the first place.”

In This Story

Quentin Sanders

Topics

mechanical engineering

3D Printing

National Science Foundation

Fuse at Mason Square