Abstract:

Precise control over neural activity is essential for developing effective bioelectronic therapies for a variety of disorders and advancing neural interfaces. However, challenges in targeted neuromodulation and understanding physiological feedback mechanisms limit clinical translation. In this talk, I will discuss our recent work that addresses these challenges: (1) the development of kilohertz-frequency electrical nerve block without onset excitation to overcome a significant barrier to clinical implementation; (2) computational modeling and validation of compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) from the vagus nerve to facilitate closed-loop neuromodulation; and 3) preliminary data demonstrating differential physiological responses to vagus nerve stimulation, highlighting individual variability in autonomic responses. Our findings show that by carefully tuning stimulation parameters—specifically using sufficiently high frequencies (≥20.8 kHz) with appropriately ramped signals (≥512 s)—we can achieve complete nerve block without undesired excitation, a previously unattained goal. Furthermore, our biophysically-based computational models of vagus nerve recordings, validated against in vivo experiments, offer critical insights into factors influencing signal features and methods for extracting physiologically relevant information from peripheral nerves. Together, these advancements lay the groundwork for precision neuromodulation technologies that can restore organ function after injury and provide new therapeutic approaches for conditions ranging from hypertension to inflammatory diseases through sophisticated closed-loop bioelectronic systems.

Biography:

Dr. Edgar Peña is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where he leads research on computational modeling to enable personalized neuromodulation therapies for techniques such as vagus nerve stimulation, which have broad applications to conditions such as heart failure, epilepsy, and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Peña previously completed postdoctoral training at Duke University, where he advanced methods for high-frequency nerve block, and earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota with a focus on spatially targeted deep brain stimulation. He is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

~ BME Faculty Host: Matthew Ward, PhD ~

ZOOM LINK: https://purdueedu.zoom.us/j/92544114610

*Note: Students enrolled in the seminar course are expected to attend in person.