The Williams lab goal is to develop novel devices for recording from and stimulating neural tissue (central and peripheral nervous system) that are both safe and durable for long-term use in animal models and human patients. The lab fabricates and validates the use of these novel devices in bench top testing, in vitro and in vivo animal models and analyzes the biological response to the implanted devices. Another area the lab focuses on is creation of novel microfluidic and micropatterned devices to aid in neuron and glial cell culture research. An objective of the lab is to learn how neurons and glia respond to electric fields to better guide neuronal growth and understand underlying mechanisms of neuromodulation. An additional aim is to investigate how neuromodulation affects the lymphatic systems of the nervous systems to aid in neurodegenerative disorder treatments.
What We're Up To
WHAT WE’RE UP TO
- Continual development of the microECoG arrays, including CLEAR microECoG, and other novel materials, for maximum biocompatibility and for use in recording and stimulation of neural tissue
- Fabrication of novel electrode designs that can access deeper regions of the brain
- Fabrication of novel electrode designs that can facilitate neuromodulation from the periphery through less invasive means
- Using novel electrode technologies in a variety of situations from use in a basic physiology lab recording from single neurons, to clinical settings where people with motor disabilities might benefit from a brain-computer interface or other neural prosthetic neural communication device
- Investigating how microglia and other glia are affected by electrical stimulation during various neuromodulation methods from the central peripheral nervous systems
- Patterning of substrates to promote neuronal guidance