College of Engineering Next Level Research Awards

by College of Engineering Communications

The College of Engineering Next Level Research Awards fund near-term research, conferences, symposia and planning for bold ideas that align with our strategic research vision. Funded projects are interdisciplinary, have the potential to advance national leadership and secure extramural funding, and articulate clear near-, mid-, and long-term goals.

Another round of funding will be available in 2024. A request for proposals will be announced in spring quarter. 

College of Engineering Next Level Research Vision

Engineering Bionic Prostheses for All: Accessible Artificial Limbs and Improved Quality of Life 

PIs: Jonathon Schofield, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group; Wilsaan Joiner, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group

The loss of an upper limb has far-reaching implications, affecting daily activities, work, and social interactions for those affected. Emerging bionic prostheses offer tremendous potential to enhance users’ functional capabilities by recording signals from the brain or nerves to control dexterous robotic limbs. However, these systems are largely inaccessible, usually requiring implanted hardware and experimental surgeries conducted at a limited number of medical centers. Our long-term goal is to transform the accessibility of bionic upper limb prostheses by integrating approachable machine learning techniques with the contemporary standard of surgical care provided to individuals undergoing amputation at UC Davis Health. This Next Level Research Award will support the close collaboration between engineers and clinicians at UC Davis, aiming to catalyze the translation of accessible bionic prostheses. Building on this award, we intend to position UC Davis as a global leader in amputee care and innovation.  

Engineering Bionic Prostheses for All: Accessible Artificial Limbs and Improved Quality of Life [Advancing Human Health] - All Investigators

• Jonathon Schofield, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group
• Wilsaan Joiner, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; Neurology, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group 
• Dr. Clifford Pereira, Department of Surgery 
• Dr. Andrew Li, Department of Surgery 
• Laduan Smedley, PM&R 

Microfabricated Platforms for Building and Studying the Gut-Brain Axis 

Lead PI: Erkin Şeker, Electrical and Computer Engineering

The gut-brain axis embodies bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The gut is colonized by a large and diverse population of microorganisms that communicate via small effector molecules. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is hypothesized to result in many disorders such as obesity and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, signals from the brain can influence the gut microbiota, creating an intriguing two-way communication. However, it is difficult to establish causation between mechanisms and their manifestations as higher-level dysfunctions due to many simultaneous physiological processes, creating a need for physiologically-relevant platforms to study the gut-brain axis. This Next Level Research Award will help address this challenge by employing engineering and biological tools to develop and utilize novel cell culture and microphysiological platforms to model the gut-brain axis. In addition, the projects will lead to new collaborations between faculty members interested in microbiome research. 

Microfabricated Platforms for Building and Studying the Gut-Brain Axis [Advancing Human Health] - All Investigators

• Erkin Şeker, Electrical & Computer Engineering 
• Jiandi Wan, Chemical Engineering 
• Maria Marco, Food Science & Technology 
• Helen Raybould, Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology 
• Allison Yorita, Lawrence Livermore National Lab

Original article was published here. 

Strategic Vision Update | UC Davis Engineering