IIT Kanpur hosts Innovations in NeuroTech Workshop

The Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine at IIT Kanpur recently hosted the ‘Innovations in NeuroTech’ workshop, bringing together experts from clinical neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and neuro-engineering. Organised by Arjun Ramakrishnan, the workshop was supported by a seed grant from IIT Kanpur and Rice University, along with contributions from the Jay Pullur Neuroscience Initiative and the Neuroscience Centre of Excellence. The event served as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, adopting innovative approaches to advance the field of neurotechnology.

The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Head of the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE), IIT Kanpur. In his remarks, Bandyopadhyay emphasised the transformative potential of indigenous medical technology in the face of rapid advancements in the field. He highlighted IIT Kanpur’s significant contributions to this progress through pioneering initiatives such as the Gangwal School of Medical Science and Technology and the Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine.

The event highlighted advancements in neurotechnology, focusing on implantable brain devices, closed-loop neuromodulation systems, and brain-machine interfaces. Discussions underscored the role of computational models in optimising device design, refining neuromodulation strategies, and improving clinical outcomes. A significant theme was the development of cost-effective and scalable neurotechnologies tailored to low-resource settings, reflecting the workshop’s emphasis on accessibility and global impact.

The workshop featured two thematic sessions. The first, Innovations in Brain Monitoring, Implants, and Epilepsy Care, included presentations from experts like Dr Harilal from AIMS, Kochi and Dr Nilesh Kurwale from DMH, Pune, who discussed invasive neural monitoring techniques for epilepsy care in India, shedding light on both the complexities and the progress achieved in the high-volume landscape of epilepsy surgeries. John Seymour (UTHealth) contributed insights from the Rice-IIT Kanpur collaboration, presenting computational methods to optimise electrode placement for enhanced surgical outcomes. Adding to these innovations, Maroun Farah, CEO of Sensomedical, introduced cost-effective and high-quality stereo EEG technology aimed at improving accessibility. Nitin Tandon further enriched the discussion by showcasing AI-based models that analyse stereo EEG (sEEG) data to interpret neural concepts essential for language processing in epilepsy patients.

The second session, Advances in Neuromodulation, explored innovative neuromodulation techniques. Behnaam Aazhang demonstrated how biomarkers derived from EEG and ECG can infer glymphatic flow, with radiofrequency stimulation shown to enhance it. Prof. Pragathi Priyadarshini linked vagal tone with electrogastrogram and EEG signals, while Nikunj Bhagat presented passive brain-computer interfaces for closed-loop systems. Prof. Venkatasubramanian Ganesan introduced non-invasive stimulation technologies, including custom-designed tDCS devices, to alleviate symptoms of treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion led by Kaustubh Despande, CEO, Eywa Neuro and Venkatasubramanian Ganesan. This session focused on integrating clinical, computational, and engineering expertise to tackle critical challenges in neurotechnology. Participants identified collaborative pathways to advance the field and strengthen India’s position as a hub for transformative neurotechnological solutions.

With over 100 attendees, including PhD students, and 12 poster presentations on neural recording and stimulation across species—from flies to rodents to humans—the workshop aimed to lay a robust foundation for future research and collaboration.