Ravi Hadimani: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can tune brain functions non-invasively, safely and effectively without the need for surgery or drugs. Thus it can enable treatment of several debilitating neurological and psychiatric disorders and enhancement of cognitive capabilities. TMS has gained significant attention as a treatment for depression and is used for investigating therapeutic effects on several brain disorders at the human level but its mechanism is poorly understood. We have designed and fabricated a novel focal stimulation coil that can stimulate only a local region of the primary motor cortex. In collaboration with Dr. Baron, a neurologist at VCU, we are working to experimentally verify the results from coil design in rats. We have also designed and fabricated an anatomically accurate human brain phantom that can be used to test the feasibility and safety of several TMS protocols. The current research is working to establish accurate mechanism underlying TMS by investigating the electric firing patterns in the deeper regions of the brain induced by cortical stimulation. The role of individual nuclei in effecting other nuclei of the motor circuitry will be established. This will enable future development of effective TMS protocols for diagnosis and treatment of several neurological and psychiatric disorders.

About the speaker:

Dr. Ravi L. Hadimani
Assistant Professor 
Director, Biomagnetics Laboratory
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 
Chair, IEEE EMB and Magnetics Society, Richmond Chapter
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia USA
Phone: (804) 828-3679
Fax:(804) 827-7030
Email: rhadimani [at] vcu.edu 
https://biomag.lab.vcu.edu 


Biography: Dr. Hadimani has first a class honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kuvempu University, India, MS in Mechatronics from the University of Newcastle, UK and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Cardiff University, UK. He has served as a Project Scientist at the Institute of Materials Research and Innovation of the University of Bolton, UK. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Iowa State University and was also an Associate of Ames Laboratory, US Dept. of Energy. 
Dr. Hadimani’s research focus is no magnetic materials and devices for biomedical applications, magnetocaloric refrigeration and energy harvesting. He has developed a hybrid piezoelectric and photovoltaic energy harvester which is capable of harvesting electrical energy from solar, wind and rain energy. This invention was awarded the UK Energy Innovation Award in 2011 which was published in various news articles by BBC, New Scientist and Scientific American. He has also developed and patented piezoelectric polymer fiber that can be woven or knitted into energy harvesting fabric. Dr. Hadimani has been awarded the International Young Scientist Fellowship by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2013. He has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal publications, more than 170 international conference papers, 6 current and pending patents, several invited trade magazine articles, a book and 3 book chapters to date.
He is currently an Assistant Professor and the Director of Biomagnetics Laboratory at the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering of Virginia Commonwealth University. He has founded the IEEE Joint Magnetics and Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society’s Richmond Chapter and he is the current chair of the chapter. He is also an editor of IEEE Transaction of Magnetics.

Room : T2:C3-135

Organized by Department of Measurement

Contact person: Assoc. prof. Mattia Butta, buttamat [at] fel.cvut.cz