Event Location: NSH 1305
Bio: Dr. Michael Boninger is a Professor and UPMC Endowed Chair in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. He has joint appointment in the Departments of Bioengineering, and the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. He is Director of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute and the Senior Medical Director for Post-Acute Care for the Health Services Division of UPMC. He is also a physician researcher for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Boninger has an extensive publication record of over 200 papers in the areas of spinal cord injury and technology. The technologies Dr. Boninger has investigated vary from brain computer interfaces to wheelchairs. His central focus is on enabling increased function and participation for individuals with disabilities through development and application of assistive, rehabilitative and regenerative technologies. Dr. Boninger also has extensive experience and publications related to training researchers. His students have won over 50 national awards. Dr. Boninger holds 4 United States patents and has received numerous honors, including being inducted into the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science.

Abstract: Brain computer interfaces are a technology that enables recording and or stimulation of the central nervous system as a means to control complex devices or provide sensory feedback from the environment. This technology may hold great promise for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have a limited ability to move and feel. This talk will reviews work completed at the University of Pittsburgh in this area and highlights successes achieved. This success includes achieving high degree of freedom control from a robotic that allowed for functional activities. The approach that enabled that success is discussed as are future directions.