History
The Center for Neural Communication Technology (CNCT) traces its origins to 1994, when it was funded as a P41 Biotechnology Resource Center by the NIH/NCRR (National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources). The CNCT, housed at the University of Michigan, was tasked to use Michigan’s innovative silicon-substrate microelectrode technology for developing a reliable system that would allow scientists to interface with neural pathways in the brain.
At the time the CNCT was conceived, it was thought that such technology could further investigations of the functional properties of neuronal populations and lead to transformative studies that would further efforts in a variety of areas, including neuroscience, neurosurgery, biomedical engineering, MEMS, and biomaterials. This seminal vision was largely realized and it stands as the strong foundation for today's CNCT. The CNCT is currently focusing on developing long-term or “chronic” neural interfaces.
Professor David J. Anderson ( www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/etc/fac/facsearchform.cgi) was the founding Director/Principal Investigator and continued to lead the CNCT to 2003. Professor Kensall Wise (www.wimserc.org/about/directory.php) was a primary co-investigator and leader whose MEMS research pushed the envelope in many aspects of neural probe technologies. Jamille Hetke (www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/etc/fac/facsearchform.cgi) -- the founding leader of the CNCT Service program -- lead the probe engineering efforts that transformed leading-edge MEMS technologies to reliable devices used by a large number of neuroscientists in diverse areas of neurophysiology.
The inital focus of CNCT’s efforts were on acute, or short-term, neuroscience applications of microelectrode arrays. With a sustained effort for the next ten years, CNCT successfully developed neural probe technology that allowed reliable neural interfaces for acute experimentation. Throughout its first decade, the Center earned an international reputation in the design, fabrication, and experimental use of microscale MEMS-based neural probes. CNCT’s success hinged on service and training programs aimed at designing devices that met the diverse application requirements of Center participants and then providing devices to these users.
During its initial phase, the Center developed the first widely available microscale, silicon, multichannel probes, which opened up new dimensions in neurophysiology [links to Mickey 2001; Furukawa 2002; Buzsaki 2004]. The signature CNCT technology was a family of silicon probes packaged for use in acute (single-session) experimental preparations. At the same time, the Center’s research enabled crucial progress in the development of first-generation chronic probes for neural recording [links to Kipke 2003; Vetter 2003; Vetter 2004] and fluidic delivery [links to Chen, J. 1997; Rathnasingham 2004]. Another measure of CNCT’s success is the commercialization of a basic type of "Michigan" silicon neural probe by a University of Michigan spin out company in July 2004.
The CNCT's current mission is to develop multifunctional devices that will enable long-term, high-fidelity electrical and chemical interfaces to the nervous system. This will be accomplished by following the model established by CNCT over the last 10 years. Specifically, success will be measured by the extent to which we can translate our scientific vision into a set of highly effective devices and methodologies that guide neuroscience research toward providing new solutions and benefits in real-world contexts.
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