Academic exchange: Neurocomputational, electrophysiological, and artificial intelligence approaches to decode neurodegenerative diseases

21 January 2025

On 14 January, Dr. Gajendra Kumar, Assistant Professor (Research) at Brown University, visited the School at the invitation of Dr. Wong Hoi-leong Xavier, Associate Professor from the Teaching and Research Division and delivered an insightful seminar titled,“Unlocking the Brain’s Mysteries:  Neurocomputational, Electrophysiological, and Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Decode Neurodegenerative Diseases.” Focusing on the research of artificial intelligence and neurodegenerative diseases, Dr Kumar and his team have received several U.S. patents for their remarkable innovations.

In his seminar, Dr. Kumar introduced the innovative use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in diagnosing neurological disorders. His research team has developed an advanced platform that integrates facial expression analysis with electroencephalography (EEG) signals to assess the severity of depression and psychological symptoms in patients. This system boasts high accuracy, significantly reducing the time clinicians spend on data analysis. Professor Li Min, Executive Associate Dean of Chinese Medicine, raised the potential for collaboration between the platform and the Chinese medicine clinic at HKBU, which could be instrumental in evaluating the efficacy of Chinese medicine treatments.

Dr. Kumar also explored the application of brain-computer interfaces in developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. One of the most compelling aspects of his presentation was the development of a computational neural circuit for studying ataxia. This innovation aids in the creation of a closed-loop deep brain stimulation system designed to reverse ataxia symptoms in a mice model. The developed platform holds great promise for advancing therapeutics for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

The seminar was not only intriguing but also provided valuable insights into the future of leveraging artificial intelligence for the diagnosis and prevention of neurological disorders. This successful exchange between Chinese and Western medicine has created potential opportunities for integrating modern technology with traditional Chinese medicine treatments.

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Dr. Gajendra Kumar, Assistant Professor (Research) at Brown University visited SCM

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(From left) Dr. Deng Zhiqiang, Dr. Ashok Iyaswamy, Professor Li Min, Dr. Gajendra Kumar, Dr. Wong Hoi-leong Xavier and Dr. Pallavi Asthana