Dr Melanie Ecker on conformal soft neural electrodes in the gut-brain axis

Dr Melanie Ecker is a professor at the University of North Texas focusing on smart polymers for biomedical applications. She has worked on conformal and biocompatible neural devices to study the electrophysiology of the enteric nervous system.

***This podcast is sponsored by Ripple Neuro, check out their Neuroscience Research Tools here***

Top 3 Takeaways:

• The neurons in the gut-brain axis have not been investigated much by neural probes because of the softness of the intestines
• "The beauty about the intestines is in comparison to the brain, our probes, the electrodes don't need to be that tiny"
• The key to recruiting lots of good student volunteers is to bring donuts to group meetings!

1:00 Do you want to introduce yourself and talk about your work?

2:30 "What are shape memory polymers and how does it relate to neurotechnology?"

4:30 What were you working on in the Voit lab and what are you working on now?

9:30 Sponsorship by Ripple Neuro

10:30 Are traditional neural probes too stiff for the intestines?

17:15 What are the conductive components of the flexible interfaces?

19:15 Do these conductive polymers last long in the body or are they dissolved quickly?

20:45 "If you had unlimited funding, what would you do?"

23:15 Do you have any tips on how to recruit so many students?

24:30 "Is there anything that we didn't cover that you wanted to mention?"