Bionics+: User Centred Design and Usability of Bionic Devices

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: Sch of Engineering

Abstract

The Bionics+ NetworkPlus will represent the spectrum of research, clinical and industrial communities across bionic technologies within the EPSRC Grand Challenge theme of Frontiers of Physical Intervention. It will invigorate and support a cohesive, open and active network with the mission of creating a mutually supportive environment. It will lead to the co-creation of user-centred bionic solutions that are fit for purpose. These advances will have a global impact, consolidating the world-leading position of the UK. The founding tranche will focus on ambitious and transformative research, new collaborative and translational activities, and the formulation of a longer-term strategy. Within this context, as a community, we will explore and identify areas of opportunity and value, driven by Bionics users' needs, complementary to existing activity and strengths. The network will instigate and support early-stage research in these priority areas, alongside providing an outward-facing representation and engagement of the UK Bionics community. Further, we aim to contribute in an advisory capacity to public bodies, UK industry and government policy.

At the time of the application, we have obtained a positive commitment from circa 70 groups including bionic users, academic partners from universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and a few international partners; partners in medical devices, orthotics and prosthetics industry, both large corporates and small-medium size companies; and many clinicians, surgeons and aligned health experts from relevant NHS clinics and the private sector.

Organisations

Publications

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Green R (2021) Possibilities in bioelectronics: Super humans or science fiction? in APL Bioengineering

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Portillo-Lara R (2021) Mind the gap: State-of-the-art technologies and applications for EEG-based brain-computer interfaces in APL Bioengineering

 
Description NeuroMod+: Co-creation for next-generation neuromodulation therapeutics 
Organisation University of Oxford
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution My research team has contributed to the concept of the network, with discussions on the content, mainly in relation to NISNEM technologies.
Collaborator Contribution Rylie Green, co-I in NISNEM, is co-I in this network proposal and extensively contributed to the conceptualization of the network focus. The network will focus on addressing the challenge of minimally invasive treatments for brain disorders, including non-invasive methods developed in NISNEM for monitoring and treating. The network has just been accepted for funding and includes new collaborations with the University of Oxford, the University of Nottingham and the University of Edinburgh. This network and the other newly funded EPSRC Network+ on Neurotechnology for enabling community-based diagnosis and care (see separate item in this section of the report) cover two fundamental core areas of NISNEM - treatment and diagnosis of neurological disorders - and will be essential in accelerating the dissemination of NISNEM technologies.
Impact This network will commence this year. We will update on the outputs in the following reports.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Bionics+ Newsletter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Bi-monthly newsletter highlighting individuals, papers, events and funding schemes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
URL https://www.bionicsplus.org/?page_id=361