‘Bionic human’ was a thing of science fiction in the past but soon it is to become a reality. A team of scientists and doctors is developing some of the most revolutionary and innovative technology in medical sciences in Alberta, Canada. If successful, it will make science fiction a reality and will revolutionize the way doctors treat a variety of brain diseases – for which there is no cure at present.
This team of scientists and doctors is preparing to implant their first prototype of a bionic chip in a human brain. This is called a Bionic Hybrid Chip, which was designed and invented by Pakistani‐origin neuroscientist Naweed Imam Syed, who is a professor at the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Institute Calgary Alberta. Syed has recently received awards like Tamgha‐e‐Imtiaz from the government of Pakistan and the Highest Medallion from the Government of Canada for his breakthrough technology. He has also been the recipient of many national and international awards and has authored over 150 papers in prestigious journals.
Syed’s team was the first to develop a true bionic hybrid whereby brain cells could communicate directly with a semiconductor chip and the chip could talk back to the networks of brain cells. This was the first major breakthrough that demonstrated that indeed brain cells could directly communicate with a human made chip. This laid the foundation for a brain machine interface that could allow control of prosthetic limbs by human mind. These experiments were also the first to demonstrate that indeed memory could be transferred and captured through the chip.
Syed’s team has since developed several other iterations of the chip for testing subtle changes in a brain cell at the resolution of ion channels. They have developed a 3D chip which has allowed them to detect seizures in brain slices and this chip has since won several awards and is being prepared for implantation in a human brain. Seizures that are uncontrolled by medication require surgical resection of the tissue generating epilepsy, and to locate the precise foci, surgeons plant surface electrodes and the patient remains in the hospital attached to a 30‐foot cable. These electrodes are neither effective nor convenient and require hospitalization of patients for at least a week. The chip designed by Syed’s team is 30 times more sensitive than conventional electrodes and is wireless.
The patient would be allowed to go home and every episode of seizure could be picked up either by their cell phone or a pocket pack and transmitted directly to the surgeon. This will not only make surgeries more effective but also prevent unnecessary resection of normal tissue. The chip also holds tremendous potential for conditions such as strokes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and also psychological illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, paranoia and drug addiction. In addition, this chip would allow amputees to control prosthetic limbs through an interface between the brain and the chip. These experiments are so important that they will entirely change the way medicine is practiced and will provide a paradigm shift for therapeutic cure of psychological and neurodegenerative brain disorders. Since no one size fits all, Syed’s team will design and plant chips that are tailor‐made for specific diseases and disorders. This is called ‘Precision Medication’ and is a game changer in the field of medical sciences. This could allow doctors to stop a seizure before it happens, cure Parkinson by activating that part of brain that controls motor movements and stop brain cells from releasing chemicals that create an urge for a drug and thus addiction can also be treated.
Initially, the team provided the proof of concept by using invertebrate neurons that are large and generate huge currents as compared with human cells. They have since enhanced the sensitivity of their sensors and the newly‐developed chip allows recordings of a multiple vertebrate neurons at a resolution never achieved before. The 3D chip designed by Syed’s lab now allows recordings from intact brain slices and it forms the basis for implantation in human brain. The team ensured that the chip could pick up electrical signals from brain cells and also “talk” back to them. This work took them a decade of persistent work. This chip is an example of nanotechnology that utilizes chemical engineering, computer sciences and medical sciences simultaneously. It can record the activities of hundreds and thousands of brain cells at the same time which was not possible before. Scientists have been successful in interfacing this chip with brain cells to create a ‘Neuro‐hybrid’ which holds tremendous potential in the future. One of the most exciting application of their 3‐D (allows recording of brain cells at multiple layers of the brain) is that children or adult who do not respond to drugs and medication have no other alternative but to undergo surgical resection. Unfortunately, in most instances, seizures return after a few years thus leaving the patient debilitated for life. Syed proposes that during the resection they could take the resected tissue and put it on their 3‐D chip and record spontaneously occurring seizures. They could then quickly screen drugs that block the seizures in that tissue. Fast forward five years, when seizures do return in those patients, doctor could then prescribe them that tested medication that will effectively block seizures. This approach will thus revolutionize the way several debilitating brain disorders are treated. Syed loves his homeland immensely and is very optimistic about bringing this technology to Pakistan in the near future. In this regard, Prime Minister Imran khan has shown interest in invoking Syed’s expertise. Recently Hafeez Khan and Zulqarnain Ali Khan – two close associates of the prime minister ‐ met Syed to seek various possibilities of establishing research facilities in Pakistan. Syed posted on his Facebook page ‐ through which he shares updates about his research and findings ‐ that some great news is coming to Pakistan related to the development of research capabilities and potential in Pakistan. Syed frequently travels to Pakistan and loves to share his research and technological findings at various forums. He is very impressed with the potential Pakistani youth possesses and is extremely hopeful about their future. In response to a question in an interview to Maple TV Canada, Syed said that the main problem in Pakistan is lack of infrastructure, expertise and nepotism. At this point it is hard to predict the future of this technology because looking at the benefits that it holds – the sky is the limit. A lot of interest has been taken in Syed’s work as he advances in his research. This is a moment of great pride for Canada and Pakistan and a great service to humanity and looks like the start of a new era of scientific wonders.
This team of scientists and doctors is preparing to implant their first prototype of a bionic chip in a human brain. This is called a Bionic Hybrid Chip, which was designed and invented by Pakistani‐origin neuroscientist Naweed Imam Syed, who is a professor at the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hotchkiss Institute Calgary Alberta. Syed has recently received awards like Tamgha‐e‐Imtiaz from the government of Pakistan and the Highest Medallion from the Government of Canada for his breakthrough technology. He has also been the recipient of many national and international awards and has authored over 150 papers in prestigious journals.
Syed’s team was the first to develop a true bionic hybrid whereby brain cells could communicate directly with a semiconductor chip and the chip could talk back to the networks of brain cells. This was the first major breakthrough that demonstrated that indeed brain cells could directly communicate with a human made chip. This laid the foundation for a brain machine interface that could allow control of prosthetic limbs by human mind. These experiments were also the first to demonstrate that indeed memory could be transferred and captured through the chip.
This chip is an example of nanotechnology that utilizes chemical engineering, computer sciences and medical sciences simultaneously. It can record the activities of hundreds and thousands of brain cells at the same time which was not possible before
Syed’s team has since developed several other iterations of the chip for testing subtle changes in a brain cell at the resolution of ion channels. They have developed a 3D chip which has allowed them to detect seizures in brain slices and this chip has since won several awards and is being prepared for implantation in a human brain. Seizures that are uncontrolled by medication require surgical resection of the tissue generating epilepsy, and to locate the precise foci, surgeons plant surface electrodes and the patient remains in the hospital attached to a 30‐foot cable. These electrodes are neither effective nor convenient and require hospitalization of patients for at least a week. The chip designed by Syed’s team is 30 times more sensitive than conventional electrodes and is wireless.
The patient would be allowed to go home and every episode of seizure could be picked up either by their cell phone or a pocket pack and transmitted directly to the surgeon. This will not only make surgeries more effective but also prevent unnecessary resection of normal tissue. The chip also holds tremendous potential for conditions such as strokes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and also psychological illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, paranoia and drug addiction. In addition, this chip would allow amputees to control prosthetic limbs through an interface between the brain and the chip. These experiments are so important that they will entirely change the way medicine is practiced and will provide a paradigm shift for therapeutic cure of psychological and neurodegenerative brain disorders. Since no one size fits all, Syed’s team will design and plant chips that are tailor‐made for specific diseases and disorders. This is called ‘Precision Medication’ and is a game changer in the field of medical sciences. This could allow doctors to stop a seizure before it happens, cure Parkinson by activating that part of brain that controls motor movements and stop brain cells from releasing chemicals that create an urge for a drug and thus addiction can also be treated.
Initially, the team provided the proof of concept by using invertebrate neurons that are large and generate huge currents as compared with human cells. They have since enhanced the sensitivity of their sensors and the newly‐developed chip allows recordings of a multiple vertebrate neurons at a resolution never achieved before. The 3D chip designed by Syed’s lab now allows recordings from intact brain slices and it forms the basis for implantation in human brain. The team ensured that the chip could pick up electrical signals from brain cells and also “talk” back to them. This work took them a decade of persistent work. This chip is an example of nanotechnology that utilizes chemical engineering, computer sciences and medical sciences simultaneously. It can record the activities of hundreds and thousands of brain cells at the same time which was not possible before. Scientists have been successful in interfacing this chip with brain cells to create a ‘Neuro‐hybrid’ which holds tremendous potential in the future. One of the most exciting application of their 3‐D (allows recording of brain cells at multiple layers of the brain) is that children or adult who do not respond to drugs and medication have no other alternative but to undergo surgical resection. Unfortunately, in most instances, seizures return after a few years thus leaving the patient debilitated for life. Syed proposes that during the resection they could take the resected tissue and put it on their 3‐D chip and record spontaneously occurring seizures. They could then quickly screen drugs that block the seizures in that tissue. Fast forward five years, when seizures do return in those patients, doctor could then prescribe them that tested medication that will effectively block seizures. This approach will thus revolutionize the way several debilitating brain disorders are treated. Syed loves his homeland immensely and is very optimistic about bringing this technology to Pakistan in the near future. In this regard, Prime Minister Imran khan has shown interest in invoking Syed’s expertise. Recently Hafeez Khan and Zulqarnain Ali Khan – two close associates of the prime minister ‐ met Syed to seek various possibilities of establishing research facilities in Pakistan. Syed posted on his Facebook page ‐ through which he shares updates about his research and findings ‐ that some great news is coming to Pakistan related to the development of research capabilities and potential in Pakistan. Syed frequently travels to Pakistan and loves to share his research and technological findings at various forums. He is very impressed with the potential Pakistani youth possesses and is extremely hopeful about their future. In response to a question in an interview to Maple TV Canada, Syed said that the main problem in Pakistan is lack of infrastructure, expertise and nepotism. At this point it is hard to predict the future of this technology because looking at the benefits that it holds – the sky is the limit. A lot of interest has been taken in Syed’s work as he advances in his research. This is a moment of great pride for Canada and Pakistan and a great service to humanity and looks like the start of a new era of scientific wonders.