Despite revolutionary advances in genomics and the study of gene expression, the majority of the encoded proteins have functions that are unknown. The next great challenge for biological research is to understand the function of all proteins; this is particularly important because most diseases are the result of protein dysfunction, and nearly all...

The promise of advanced neuroprosthetic systems to improve the quality of life for the deaf, blind, paralyzed, or other handicapped individuals hinges on the development of a safe and effective neural interface for the central nervous system. Existing devices are typically made from photolithographed or micromachined silicon which tend to be stiff,...

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) occurs when the cells within the spinal cord are damaged or the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord are severed. There are an estimated 250,000 people with SCI and roughly 10,000 new cases annually. Depending on the type and level of the injury, SCI can have different effects and is usually divided...

People without natural obstacle detection capability, due to a visual impairment, require some type of an aid to effectively maneuver within their environment. Although Electronic Travel Aids (ETA) have been in existence for over 40 years, a combination of economic, technical, and other issues has prevented them from becoming mainstream assistive...