It鈥檚 a research and training program called RADIANT 鈥� and word that it鈥檚 a go has Aaron Newman positively beaming.
RADIANT鈥攁n acronym for Rehabilitative and Diagnostic Innovations in Applied Neuro Technology 鈥� is a six-year project with the aim of training more than 120 undergraduate and graduate students in the interdisciplinary field of neurotechnology.
Dal at the forefront
鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting ... There鈥檚 not another program like this anywhere in the world,鈥� says Dr. Newman, associate professor in AV俱乐部鈥檚 Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, Surgery, and Pediatrics. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to be at the forefront and establish ourselves as a world leader in this area of neurotechnology.鈥�
Neurotechnology is defined as technology concerned with electronic and engineering methods of understanding and affecting nervous system function. In part because of our society鈥檚 aging population, the market for neurotechnology products is poised to experience dramatic growth in the next 10 to 15 years, says Dr. Newman.
Neurotechnologies include software and devices for sensory, motor and cognitive assessment and training, brain imaging, drugs and drug delivery systems targeted at specific brain diseases. AV俱乐部-developed examples include bone-anchored hearing aids and games to keep aging brains fit.
鈥淲e鈥檙e developing a neurotechnology cluster in Halifax. The NRC (National Research Council) has three neuroscience labs and we鈥檙e seeing companies spin off as things develop,鈥� he says. AV俱乐部 has also been building expertise in the expanding field; Dal professors working with Dr. Newman on RADIANT as co-applicants include Manohar Bance, head of the Ear and Auditory Research Laboratory at Dal; Ryan D鈥橝rcy with the Neuroscience Institute; Gail Eskes with the Department of Psychiatry; Ray Klein and Shannon Johnson, of the Department of Psychology, Thomas Trappenberg with the Faculty of Computer Science; and Donald Weaver, Canada Research Chair in Clinical Neuroscience.
RADIANT has just been awarded funding to the tune of $1.65 million through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) 鈥� with matching funds from AV俱乐部 and from local and international businesses.
'Entrepreneurial neuroscientists'
But learning research skills is only a part of RADIANT. The other focus is providing the communication skills and business smarts students heading out in the job market need. The idea is to produce 鈥渆ntrepreneurial neuroscientists.鈥�
鈥淩esearch is only half the story,鈥� emphasizes Dr. Newman. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a growing awareness that the way science discoveries make a difference in when they become commercialized ... we鈥檙e hoping this program will give students the opportunity to see how things work in the commercial sector.鈥�
The interdisciplinary RADIANT will have a certificate program and free-standing graduate program in Translational Neuroscience. The two programs include a research-based project, thesis or dissertation (depending on the level of the student); biweekly seminars; new graduate courses focusing on professional skills development; professional workshops; a summer institute in which students from different disciplines will work together on projects; and internships with Dal鈥檚 partners in industry or government.