Dec 3, 2018
Jack Judy
is the director of Nanoscience Institute for Medical and
Engineering Technologies at
the University of Florida He serves to bridge the divide between
engineering, medicine, and the
sciences through the work he does with neurotechnologies and neural
implants. He has focused
on peripheral nerve interfaces and how stimulating these could help
amputees in the Wounded
Warrior Project. He has worked with DARPA for several years where
he has revolutionized
biotechnology and biomedicine to confront issues many in the field
were ignoring.
Top Three Takeaways:
1. Biomedicine and biotechnology provide an avenue for innovation
in the future of neural
implants that could provide alternative forms of treatment for
certain treatments.
2. Many issue concerning neural implants are not being discussed
openly which thwarts
improvement in much for the field.
3. The field of biotechnologies and biomedicine has potential but
very strong challenges
that include funding, research, and over excitement without
delivery.
Show Notes
[0:00] Jack Judy Introduces himself
[2:50] Ladan asks about the approaches Judy and his colleagues are
taking in building physical
objects that will work with neural tissue.
[6:30] Judy explains how higher channel counts in neural implants
could compromise good
electrical connection.
[11:30] Judy explains how he got involved in the field of
neurotechnology through DARPA.
[16:00] Judy explains the problems he perceives in
neurotechnology.
[22:30] Judy explains how he worked with DARPA to serve the nation
and assist the defense.
[26:00] Judy explains how DARPA chose to shed a light on the
reliability issues
neurotechnology has.
[29:05] The hype cycle concerning MEMS technology is discussed; the
relationship between the
hype cycle of neural implants is also explained.
[37:00] Judy acknowledges the excitement in the field of
biomedicine, but he advocates for
research and funding.
[43:00] Judy explains how the field does face obstacles but the
strong engineering school and
strong medical school in close proximity at the University of
Florida provides a good
environment for progression.