The University of Texas Medical Branch, patients in our local communities and the broader Houston-Galveston region could eventually have access to the most advanced neurological medical technologies thanks to a collaboration between UTMB and the Wyss Center, a world leading neuroengineering and neurotechnology research non-profit.
Leaders with both organizations formally signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the two institutions work together to advance neuroscience research and technology.
“Together we are laying the foundation to bring the latest in neuro-engineering and neurotechnology to UTMB and to make it applicable and useable for patients and our community,” said Dr. Giulio Taglialatela, vice president for Brain Health, the director of the Moody Brain Health Institute, professor in the Department of Neurology and the Del Papa Distinguished Chair in Neurodegenerative Diseases. “This will be a partnership not just between our two institutions, but between our community and some of the greatest minds working on the health care tools of tomorrow.”
Taglialatela, and the newly created Moody Brain Health Institute which he leads, will be working closely with the Wyss Center, a non-profit research organization based in Geneva, Switzerland that is dedicated to innovating and accelerating technologies and therapies for neurological and mental health disorders.
“Neurological and mental health disorders are an increasing problem for humanity,” said Dr. Erwin Bottinger, Director and CEO of the Wyss Center. “We want to bring all the scientific and engineering disciplines together to find solutions for these problems, technological solutions that can restore the quality of life of people suffering from these disorders. Working together, we can bring these solutions to patients here at UTMB.”
UTMB, with its broad and deep history of medical research, will help scientists at the Wyss Center test and refine innovative devices such as exoskeletons, visual aids, and portable medical technologies and many others, said Taglialatela.
UTMB has a vast collection of human specimens and data that have been donated to science and are vital for testing and refining medical technology.
One example Taglialatela highlighted was the collection of Electroencephalogram (EGG) test data at UTMB that has been donated by patients and made available for scientific research. EGG tests detect abnormalities in brain waves or electrical activity in the brain. That information can be used to teach and refine AI software meant to detect and identifying early signs of seizures and other neurological conditions, Taglialatela said.
“With the proper testing and refinement that we can provide here at UTMB, we could eventually use this technology in our clinics helping our patients deal with and better understand their conditions,” Taglialatela said. “And in the future, I could see this being used to predict diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, drug addiction and many other diseases.”
Taglialatela emphasized that this was just the beginning. Work has already begun to lay the groundwork for patient outreach for future clinical trials, the development of community advisory committees, and diverse community engagement to help test, steer and be a partner in the creation of life-enhancing technologies.
“The technologies developed through this partnership could revolutionize diagnostics and treatments for neurological and other systemic diseases,” said Dr. Jochen Reiser, UTMB President and CEO of the Health System. “And we don’t mean in 40 years or 50 years. We choose to work with the Wyss Center because they are as committed as we are to innovation and to bringing the latest developments to our patients. It’s no good if it just sits in the lab. We want to put these newest tools in the hands of our doctors and nurses and our patients and community partners.”