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Patrick Degenaar

Reader in Neuroprosthesis, Newcastle University

I am a reader in biomedical engineering and came to Newcastle in 2010 to develop world class collaborations between the school of EEE and the Institute of Neuroscience. I have a BSc (1st class) and MRes in applied physics from Liverpool University, and a PhD in bioimaging from the Japan Advanced Institute for Science and Technology. After some time in the software industry, I did two post-doctoral projects at Imperial College before getting an RCUK fellowship in 2005. From 2005-2010 I was a lecturer and then senior lecturer in Imperial College, before coming to Newcastle. In my time I have had numerous research awards and published numerous papers in the key journals in the biomedical field.

At the heart of these efforts is my pioneering use of CMOS-micro-LED optoelectronics in combination with optogenetic gene therapy solutions. These will lead to highly advanced forms of prosthetic intervention not previously possible. This has led to a number of highly cited papers in key biomedical engineering journals. Furthermore I have explored impact through patient trials and commercial translation.

To achieve my aims I have been part of a number of large research consortia. Between 2010-2014 I coordinated the FP7 OptoNeuro project. More recently I am the engineering team leader on the £10M CANDO project to develop a next-generation prosthesis for epilepsy. Currently I have a large highly dedicated team of RAs, and PhD students.

Why hacking the nervous system could be the next big medical treatment

Jul 10, 2016 20:33 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology Health

The nervous system that commands and controls your body is beautifully constructed, but occasionally things go wrong. Defects in our DNA can cause lead to a range of disorders. Accidents, old age and even poor diet can...

Economy

RBA Set for Back-to-Back Rate Hikes, Westpac Forecasts

Westpac economists have revised their outlook for Australian monetary policy, now predicting the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates by 25 basis points at both its March and May meetings. If realized, the...

Bank of Japan Expected to Hold Rates at 0.75% Before June Hike Amid Middle East War Uncertainty

A recent Reuters poll of 64 economists confirmed that the Bank of Japan will hold its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.75% during its March 19 meeting, with a likely increase to 1.00% by the end of June. These...

Asia FX Steady as Iran War Signals and U.S. Inflation Data Weigh on Sentiment

Most Asian currencies traded within narrow ranges on Wednesday as investors weighed conflicting signals surrounding the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran while bracing for critical U.S. inflation figures. Traders largely...

Asian Stock Markets Rise as Oil Prices Pull Back; U.S. CPI in Focus

Asian stock markets posted modest gains on Wednesday, buoyed by a retreat in oil prices after a turbulent start to the week driven by escalating Middle East tensions. Investors, however, remained cautious ahead of a...

Dollar Steadies as Traders Await Clarity on U.S.-Israel-Iran War

Global currency markets held their breath on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar maintained its position while traders waited for clearer signals about the trajectory of the U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran. The ongoing...

Politics

Shots Fired at U.S. Consulate in Toronto in Suspected National Security Incident

Canadian authorities have ramped up security measures around American and Israeli diplomatic buildings following a early-morning shooting at the U.S. consulate in Toronto. Prime Minister Mark Carney swiftly condemned the...

Israel-Iran War: Herzog Urges Patience as U.S. and Israeli Strikes Intensify

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has declined to provide a timeline for ending the ongoing conflict with Iran, emphasizing the need for a decisive and lasting outcome rather than a rushed resolution. Speaking to Germanys...

Trump Administration Spent $5.6 Billion in Munitions in Opening Days of Iran Strikes

The Trump administration disclosed to congressional committees that it expended $5.6 billion worth of munitions within the first 48 hours of its military strikes against Iran, according to a source with knowledge of the...

Ukraine Strikes Russian Missile Component Factory in Bryansk Using British Weapons

Ukrainian forces carried out a precision strike on a key Russian defense manufacturing plant in the Bryansk border region on Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed. The targeted facility, known as the Kremniy El...

Boeing Secures $289 Million Smart Bomb Contract With Israel

Boeing has signed a $289 million defense contract with Israel to supply up to 5,000 air-launched smart bombs, according to a source who spoke with Reuters. The deal covers Boeings Small Diameter Bomb, a precision-guided...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

Anduril Industries Acquires ExoAnalytic Solutions to Bolster Space Defense Capabilities

Anduril Industries has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a national security firm specializing in space situational awareness and missile defense technology. The move signals Andurils...

Nintendo Stock Surges 10% as Pokémon Pokopia Breaks Sales Records

Nintendo shares climbed sharply on Wednesday, with Nintendo Co Ltd (TYO:7974) jumping 10% to 10,035 yen, landing among the top performers on the Nikkei 225 index, which itself gained 2.7%. The surge came on the back of...

Amazon Invests $535 Million in Brisbane Robotics Fulfillment Center

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) has announced a major A$750 million (approximately $535 million USD) investment to build a cutting-edge robotics-driven fulfillment center in Brisbane, Australia. Slated for completion in...

Microsoft Backs Anthropic in Legal Fight Against Pentagon's AI Blacklist

Microsoft has stepped into a high-profile legal battle between AI startup Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense, filing an amicus brief in federal court in San Francisco to support Anthropics request for a temporary...

U.S. Senate Greenlights AI Chatbots for Official Staff Use

The United States Senate has officially approved three major artificial intelligence chatbots for use by congressional staff, marking a significant step in the adoption of AI technology within the federal government....