Speech Neuroprosthesis: The Future of Communication with David Moses, PhD

Welcome to the Neurocareers podcast, where we explore the exciting world of careers in neurotechnologies! In this special episode of our BCI Award series, we are joined by David Moses, PhD. He will share his insights on the groundbreaking project, "A direct-speech BCI for decoding words and sentences in a person with severe paralysis and anarthria," that received 2nd place in the International Annual BCI Award in 2021. This project was conducted with a team of talented scientists in neurosurgeon Edward Chang, MD's laboratory at UCSF, known around the globe for studies on neural bases of speech.

Get ready to be inspired as we discuss the incredible effort that led to developing a speech neuroprosthesis that allows people with severe paralysis to communicate in full sentences by directly translating signals from their brains into words on a screen. This technology is the first successful demonstration of decoding full words from the brain activity of someone paralyzed and unable to speak!

We'll delve into the challenges Dr. Moses faced during their research and the innovative breakthroughs that made this technology possible. Dr. Moses will also share his insights and advice for future BCI Award applicants and his journey in neurotechnologies.

This episode is part of a partnership between Milena Korostenskaja, PhD at the Institute of Neuroapproaches, and Christoph Guger, PhD at g.tec biomedical engineering. We showcase the innovative projects of BCI Award winners and nominees and to guide future applicants.

Are you ready to be blown away by the possibilities of speech neuroprosthesis? Then tune in now to the Neurocareers podcast and discover how Dr. Moses and the team at Edward Chang's Lab are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in neurotechnologies!

About the Podcast Guest:

Dr. David Moses is a postdoctoral scholar at the forefront of developing speech neuroprostheses to aid people unable to speak due to paralysis or other conditions. He received his BS in Bioengineering from Rice University and earned his PhD in Bioengineering from a joint program between UCSF and UC Berkeley. During his PhD studies, he conducted research in Dr. Edward Chang's lab at UCSF, where he explored how the human cortex encodes perceived and produced speech using electrocorticography (an invasive brain-recording methodology involving electrical sensors placed directly on the brain surface). He also developed a system to decode both types of speech from the cortical activity of volunteer participants.

After completing his PhD, Dr. Moses remained in Dr. Chang's lab as a postdoctoral scholar to manage and coordinate projects for a new early-feasibility clinical trial at UCSF to evaluate the potential of electrocorticography as a recording methodology to restore speech to patients with severe paralysis. Following successful proof-of-concept demonstrations, he has continued to work towards the development of a clinical implementation that can enhance the communicative abilities of people suffering from severe paralysis.

Dr. Moses' work is groundbreaking and has the potential to transform the lives of individuals unable to speak due to paralysis or other conditions. Through his research, he is advancing the field of neuroprosthetics and paving the way for new technologies to help people communicate and connect with the world around them.

Get in touch with Dr. Moses: Twitter: @AtDavidMoses   Learn more about speech research Dr. Moses is involved in at UCSF: https://changlab.ucsf.edu/

About the Podcast Host:

The Neurocareers podcast is brought to you by The Institute of Neuroapproaches (https://www.neuroapproaches.org/) and its founder, Milena Korostenskaja, Ph.D. (Dr. K), a neuroscience educator, research consultant, and career coach for students and recent graduates in neuroscience and neurotechnologies. As a professional coach with a background in the field, Dr. K understands the unique challenges and opportunities facing students in this field and can provide personalized coaching and support to help you succeed.

Here's what you'll get with one-on-one coaching sessions from Dr. K:

• Identification and pursuit of career goals
• Guidance on job search strategies, resume and cover letter development, and interview preparation
• Access to a network of professionals in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnologies
• Ongoing support and guidance to help you stay on track and achieve your goals

You can always schedule a free neurocareer consultation/coaching session with Dr. K at https://neuroapproaches.as.me/free-neurocareer-consultation

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