5th Annual Research Symposium, Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine

The 5th Annual UC Davis Neuroengineering & Medicine Research Symposium brings together researchers, clinicians, and trainees to showcase innovative neuroengineering research conducted at UC Davis.

Join us for a day of research talks, networking, and a keynote presentation by Dr. Nanthia Suthana from Duke University. The symposium will feature presentations from UC Davis faculty, graduate students, and trainees across engineering, medicine, neuroscience, and related disciplines. Additional details about the poster session will be announced in the coming weeks.

The mission of the Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine is to promote neurological health and extend human capacity through neuroengineering to benefit society. The center advances interdisciplinary research, education, and stakeholder engagement, supporting the translation of systems that interface with the brain and body from discovery to real-world application.

This annual symposium provides a platform for faculty, physician-scientists, clinicians, students, postdoctoral scholars, and researchers to share their work and connect with others interested in neuroengineering and translational neuroscience.

Students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, clinicians, physician-scientists, and researchers interested in neuroengineering, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and related fields.

Free

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM

ARC (Activities & Recreation Center)
Ballrooms A & B
760 Orchard Rd, Davis, CA

Dr. Nanthia Suthana
Professor of Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering
Duke University

Neural Dynamics of Memory and Navigation: From Naturalistic Behavior to New Therapies

Understanding how the human brain supports memory and navigation requires studying neural dynamics not only in laboratory environments but also in real-world settings. In this talk, Dr. Suthana will present the development of research platforms that integrate intracranial recordings with wearable sensors and augmented and virtual reality technologies. These systems enable the study of freely moving individuals as they recall, imagine, and navigate through space.

Using these approaches, her research has uncovered hippocampal activity patterns that connect memory processes to naturalistic behavior. The work demonstrates how neural dynamics can be tracked both during controlled experimental tasks and in everyday experiences. Dr. Suthana will also discuss how these discoveries are informing new neuromodulation strategies, including early evidence that targeted stimulation of amygdala–hippocampal circuits may reduce symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Together, these innovations bring researchers closer to understanding brain function in real-world contexts and developing therapies that translate neuroscience discoveries into clinical applications.

Nanthia Suthana, PhD, is Professor of Neurosurgery and Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. She earned her B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA, where she also completed her postdoctoral training and later served on the faculty before joining Duke.

Her research focuses on the neural dynamics underlying memory, navigation, and emotion. By combining intracranial brain recordings with wearable sensors and augmented or virtual reality technologies, her work enables the study of cognitive processes in freely moving humans in naturalistic environments.

For her innovative contributions, Dr. Suthana has received the McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award, along with multiple research grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Keck Foundation, and the Simons Foundation. Her work continues to advance the development of experimental platforms that bridge laboratory neuroscience with real-world human behavior.

Info: 15 min each (12 min talk + 2 min Q&A, 1 min for transition to the next speaker)

Info: Abstract:
Understanding how the brain supports memory and navigation requires studying neural activity not only in the laboratory but also in real-world environments. In this talk, I will present platforms that combine intracranial recordings with wearable sensors and augmented or virtual reality, enabling the study of freely moving individuals as they recall, imagine, and navigate through space. Using these tools, we have identified hippocampal activity patterns that link memory to natural behavior and can be tracked during both controlled tasks and everyday experiences. I will also discuss how these findings inform new neuromodulation strategies, including early evidence that targeted stimulation of amygdala–hippocampal circuits may reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These advances bring us closer to understanding the brain in natural contexts and developing therapies that translate neuroscience from lab to real-world applications.

Info: 15 min each (12 min talk + 2 min Q&A, 1 min for transition to the next speaker)

Info: This panel brings together researchers exploring how artificial intelligence is used in neuroengineering, neuroscience, and medicine. Panelists will briefly introduce their work and explain key concepts such as AI, Machine Learning (ML), Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), and Large Language Models (LLMs).
The discussion will begin with a few guiding questions about what AI means across disciplines and its current role in research and healthcare, followed by an open Q&A with the audience.

Info: The event will include a student poster session showcasing research in neuroengineering and related fields. Students will submit abstracts in advance, which will be reviewed and organized by the event coordination team. Accepted posters will be scheduled into two presentation sessions to allow time for discussion. Faculty judges will review assigned abstracts beforehand and evaluate posters during the session using a standardized scoring system.

Info: The program will feature a series of short presentations highlighting current research and advances in translational neuroengineering. Faculty speakers will present brief talks introducing their work, ongoing projects, and emerging applications at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and medicine. The session is designed to provide attendees with insight into innovative research directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Info: The event will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions and presentations. Awards will include recognition for program fellows, as well as prizes for exceptional oral and poster presentations. Selection of award recipients will be determined by the Steering Committee based on evaluations conducted during the poster and presentation review period.

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Host or Publisher UC Davis Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine