Rikky Muller
Assistant Professor
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences
University of California, Berkeley

Abstract
Neural interface technologies stand to revolutionize disease care for patients with neurological conditions and in the future, the human experience. Today, implantable neurostimulation devices have seen widespread adoption in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, OCD, epilepsy, and more. Clinical neurostimulators have few channels and provide simple electrical pulses that are programmed by a doctor in a process that can take months or even years. In this talk I will present WAND: Wireless, Artifact-free Neuromodulation Device, which combines high channel count neural recording with stimulation in a truly closed-loop manner for the first time. This technology, enabled by advances in integrated circuit design, will enable patient-specific therapies that will result in improved outcomes and reduced side effects and pave a path to bidirectional brain-machine interfacing. I will also present recent research in a new class of ultrasound-powered interfaces that has enabled us to scale complete wireless neurosensing and neurostimulation devices to volumes below 1mm3, enabling minimally invasive implantation and safe, chronic use inside the human body.

Bio
Rikky Muller, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at the University of California, Berkeley. She is Co-director of the Berkeley Wireless Research Center, a Core Member of the Center for Neural Engineering and Prostheses and an Investigator at the Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub. She is also the Co-founder of Cortera Neurotechnologies, Inc. a medical device company founded in 2013 where she previously held positions as CEO and CTO.

Dr. Muller received her BS and MS degrees from MIT and her PhD from UC Berkeley all in EECS. She was named one of MIT Technology Review's top 35 global innovators under the age of 35 (TR35), and one of MedTech Boston's top 40 healthcare innovators Under 40. She is the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards including the National Academy of Engineering Gilbreth Lecture Award, the Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Investigatorship, and the Keysight Early Career Professorship.

Host
Sunil Bhave