Brain Sciences Webinar | Neurorehabilitation and the Senses
Welcome from the Chairs
1st Brain Sciences Webinar
Neurorehabilitation and the Senses
Sensory disorders affect brain processing but appropriate sensory stimulation also can result in successful neurorehabilitation. The world-renowned speakers will present in their areas of expertise: sensory disorders of vision, balance and hearing and will discuss their novel collaborations to the neurorehabilitation field. Recovery of vision in amblyopia. reduction of symptoms of tinnitus, and reducing imbalance in vestibular disorders are fascinating examples of how research involving cutting-edge neuroplasticity can be translated into clinical practice.
Date: 16 September 2021
Time: 10:00am CEST | 4:00am EDT | 4:00pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 881 0283 3602
Webinar Secretariat: brainsciences.webinar@mdpi.com
Chair
Grant D. Searchfield obtained his Doctorate in Audiology (cochlear physiology) from the University of Auckland in 2004, was head of the Audiology program from 2007-2014, and is currently a deputy director of the Eisdell Moore Centre for hearing and balance research. AP Searchfield is internationally recognized for his contributions to tinnitus practice. His research has used multiple methodologies to study tinnitus with a focus on the development and implementation of sensory and behavioural intervention technology. His ‘ecological model of tinnitus’ and ‘adaptation level theory of tinnitus’ bridge gaps between neurophysiological mechanisms and psychosocial observations of the tinnitus experience. Grants’ translational research has resulted in two patents and his methods for fitting hearing aids as a therapy for tinnitus have been widely adopted by industry. Grant is the scientific director of Tinnitus Tunes (www.tinnitustunes.com) an internet-based tinnitus treatment resource for clinicians and patients.
Invited Speakers
School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada,
Centre for Eye and Vision Reserch, Hong Kong
Ben Thompson is a Professor within the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo. Ben is also the CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research in Hong Kong, a collaborative initiative between The University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Ben’s research interests encompass human visual development and neuroplasticity. He has published over 155 journal articles and supervised over 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Ben’s collaborative research has led to a promising new video-game based treatment for a vision disorder called amblyopia (sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”) that is currently being commercialized by Novartis. Ben is also the Chief Scientific Officer of Objective Acuity, a start-up company he cofounded in 2015 to commercialize a new method for measuring vision in children that he co-invented. More recently, Ben has led the development of new techniques with the potential to improve vision in older adults with macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes central vision loss.
Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Denise Taylor is a Professor of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in the School of Clinical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology. She is Director of the Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute and leads a large interdisciplinary group of researchers with an interest in rehabilitation technologies and neuroscience. She is also a Director of the New Zealand Dizziness and Balance Centre and maintains a clinical role in the Centre. Her interests are broadly in rehabilitation and specifically in balance, bringing new technologies and treatments to people with neurological and vestibular disorders.
Webinar Content
On Thursday, 16 September 2021, MDPI and the Journal Brain Sciences organized the 1st webinar on Brain Sciences, entitled "Neurorehabilitation and the Senses".
The introduction was held by the Chair of the webinar, Dr. Grant Searchfield. He has obtained his Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Auckland and was head of the Audiology program from 2007-2014- He is currently a deputy director of the Eisdell Moore Centre for hearing and balance research. Dr. Searchfield is internationally recognized for his contributions to tinnitus practice. His research has used multiple methodologies to study tinnitus with a focus on the development and implementation of sensory and behavioural intervention technology. Dr. Searchfield is the scientific director of Tinnitus Tunes, an internet-based tinnitus treatment resource for clinicians and patients.
The first speaker to quick off this webinar was Dr. Grant Searchfield, with his presentation "Neurorehabilitation of Tinnitus".
The second presentation with the title "Neurorehabilitation of Vision" was held by Prof. Dr. Ben Thompson. He is professor within the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo. He is also the CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research in Hong Kong, a collaborative initiative between The University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Ben’s research interests encompass human visual development and neuroplasticity. Prof. Dr. Thompson is also the Chief Scientific Officer of Objective Acuity, a start-up company he cofounded in 2015 to commercialize a new method for measuring vision in children that he co-invented.
Prof. Dr. Denise Taylor was the third speaker with her presentation "Neurorehabilitation of Balance Disorders". She is professor of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in the School of Clinical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology. Prof. Dr. Taylor is Director of the Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute and leads a large interdisciplinary group of researchers with an interest in rehabilitation technologies and neuroscience. She is also a Director of the New Zealand Dizziness and Balance Centre and maintains a clinical role in the Centre.
The presentations were followed by a Q&A and a discussion, moderated by the Chair Dr. Grant Searchfield. The webinar was offered via Zoom and required registration to attend. The full recording can be found here on Sciforum website. In order to stay updated on the next webinars on Brain Sciences be sure to sign up for our newsletter by clicking on “Subscribe” at the top of the page.
Program
|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST/CET |
|
Chair Dr. Grant Searchfield Chair Introduction |
10:00 - 10:15 am |
|
Dr. Grant Searchfield Neurorehabilitation of Tinnitus |
10:15 - 10:40 am |
|
Prof. Dr. Ben Thompson Neurorehabilitation of Vision |
10:40 - 11:05 am |
|
Prof. Dr. Denise Taylor Neurorehabilitation of Balance Disorders |
11:05 - 11:30 am |
|
Q&A Session |
11:30 - 11:55 am |
|
Closing of Webinar Chair Dr. Grant Searchfield |
11:55 - 12:00 pm |
Relevant SI
Guest Editors: Dr. George S. Korres and Prof. Dr. Diego Kaski
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2022
Closed SI
Neurorehabilitation of Sensory Disorders
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Ben Thompson, Dr. Grant Searchfield & Dr. Allen Cheong
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
