Sid Sivakumar
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Current advisor: Daniel W. Moran, PhD
Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University
Research summary
Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are a leading area of research for restoring lost function in patients with significant motor impairments. While preclinical studies have demonstrated impressive results, the translation of BCI systems to clinical settings has been limited by reliance on highly invasive electrode technologies, which are typically reserved for rare patient populations such as those with upper spinal cord injury. Broader adoption of BCI technologies will require either the development of systems suitable for neurorehabilitation in more prevalent patient populations, such as stroke survivors, or the advancement of less invasive neural interfaces suitable for long-term use. My research addresses both challenges through two complementary studies in non-human primates (NHPs). The first investigates motor recovery following subcortical stroke using a novel internal capsule infarct model, combining targeted lesioning, neuroimaging, and detailed behavioral assessments of arm function. The second evaluates the long-term biocompatibility of epidural electrocorticography (ECoG) arrays by analyzing multi-year implants in archived NHP brain specimens. This work demonstrates persistent motor deficits and adaptive grasping strategies after white matter stroke, and provides evidence for the structural viability of chronic epidural implants. Together, these studies contribute to the development of translational models and technologies, advancing toward the larger goal of safe and effective neurorehabilitation therapies in humans.
Graduate publications