Neuroscientist in international engineering program

For many, the summer is a time for rest and relaxation after a busy academic year. Many do that by traveling abroad and immersing themselves in different cultures. For Dr. Eleonora Bartoli, assistant professor of neurosurgery, the summer brought a healthy mix of work, play and travel.

Bartoli, who holds an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, joined other experts from Rice in attending Selected Topics in Computation Engineering for Scientific Challenges of the 21^st Century: From Bioelectronic Devices to Solar Desalination Systems, a summer school program held in collaboration with Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.

“This year’s program was organized by two assistant professors from Rice: Dr. Alessandro Alabastri, and Dr. Raudel Avila, and with the help of graduate student Will Schmid” Bartoli said. “The mission was to teach students about computational modeling and its applications to various problems in science and engineering.”

Bartoli was invited to give a seminar, “Topological optimization for neural pathways predictions in the human brain,” based on a recent collaborative project with Alabastri. “This served to showcase the range of applications of advanced computational modeling tools, with an example from our research in neuroscience,” she said.

Bartoli is passionate about mental health and her research aims to innovate brain stimulation therapies by incorporating knowledge of brain signals that support cognitive functions, ultimately improving  outcomes for patients undergoing treatments such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) for various psychiatric disorders. The opportunity to “study abroad” highlighted the importance of collaboration across various fields and multiple institutions.

“In neuroscience research, we deal with such a complex system – the brain. The type of information we extract, such as electrical signaling, is complicated and requires more complex tools to properly understand the underlying dynamics of these signals and their effects,” Bartoli said. “In partnering with experts in more engineering- and physics-focused fields, we can build computational models to describe the physical phenomena that make up the brain’s signals.”

The program’s students ranged from undergraduate to master / graduate level, and Bartoli’s hope is that some will be inspired to apply their expanded knowledge and background to the field of healthcare.

“To these students, the concepts of physics and electrical signal circuits are clear; however, they might not be aware that they can apply this knowledge to health-related problems, which is my interest,” she said “In the end, we can take what we learn through this type of collaboration into the clinic, helping to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of brain stimulation techniques (like DBS) , and ultimately improving the lives of patients.”

While there, Bartoli not only sought to inspire others, but she also was inspired. Attending lectures, she learned about the tools used by experts in other fields.

“ I was also amazed to learn about the program in general,” she said. “The program brings in experts from the U.S., and attendees on both sides benefit from this international meeting of the minds. I think it would be fun to do something similar here.”

The trip was Bartoli’s first time visiting Colombia, and she made sure to take in as much as possible.

“It was amazing, and a really beautiful experience to explore the city of Bogotá. At one point the students started showing us around, and we were able to experience the city from a local’s perspective,” she said. “It was unexpected, but they said it was a part of their culture to be hospitable. They were proud to share their culture with us – especially the food!”

For more information on Bartoli’s summer seminar, read “A biophysically constrained brain connectivity model based on stimulation-evoked potentials.”

Story by Cristina Flores, senior communications associate for Baylor’s Department of Neurosurgery and Baylor Medicine Spine Center