Fourth International Summer School on Emerging Technologies in Biomedicine

The 4th International Summer School on Emerging Technologies in Biomedicine: “Advanced Methods for the Estimation of Human Brain Activity and Connectivity, Applications to Rehabilitation Engineering”, is sponsored by the European programme COST. The COST action (BM0601) is NEUROMATH.

IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

International Society for Bioelectromagnetism

Second Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

With this letter I would wish to inform you about the latest news regarding the organization of the 4th International Summer School on Emerging Technologies in Biomedicine. As you know this year's special topic is “Advanced Methods for the Estimation of Human Brain Activity and Connectivity, Applications to Rehabilitation Engineering”, organized in collaboration with the European COST Action NeuroMath (BM0601). Our event will host internationally renowned lecturers who are successful in their field and have outstanding achievements in research and education.
Τhe latest news are:
• The ΙΕΕΕ Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, and the International Society for Bioelectromagnetism, are technically sponsoring the Summer School.
• The COST Office is providing several grants to help students covering expenses towards attending the School. Interested students who wish to apply for the grant have to submit a dossier with their curriculum and an application letter. Selection will be based on academic merit and research potential.
• The registration has opened online.
• The Invited Speakers List has been finalized (see below).

The lectures will be thematically organized and opportunities to meet and discuss with the speakers are scheduled. After following the cycle of lectures in this conferences, the participants will have acquired new knowledge and a clear image concerning the advances in the fields discussed, and particularly the young students will have a more clear idea on their future education and research activities. Not to exclude a possible opportunity for them to be enlisted on the tedious but rewarding path of research and perhaps embrace a career.

I am looking forward to seeing you in Patras,

Warm regards,

A. Bezerianos, Chairman

First Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success and positive feedback from the Third Summer School on Emerging Technologies in Biomedicine, held two years ago, we are pleased to announce the organization of the 4th International Summer School that will take place between June 29^th-July 4^th 2008 in Patras, Greece.

The field of Biomedicine and its associated techniques is experiencing explosive growth. The aim of our Summer School, which is organized every two years, is to inform young students and future scientists about the latest trends in the field. The organizing committee has decided that, from now on, each installment would specifically focus on a special topic. This year's special topic is “Advanced Methods for the Estimation of Human Brain Activity and Connectivity, Applications to Rehabilitation Engineering”. Our event is organized in partnership with NeuroMath, a European COST Action (BM0601).

We are also glad to announce that the COST office will provide several grants to help students covering expenses towards attending the School. Interested students who wish to apply for the grant will have to submit a dossier with their curriculum and an application letter. Selection will be based on academic merit and research potential.

The goal of the Summer School is to present advanced methods for the estimation of the cortical activity and connectivity in the human brain. Emphasis is put on the current trend in advanced neural engineering techniques, that is, to measure brain signals and interpret them for clinical use, in the rehabilitation context. The presentations will consist of a series of invited talks given by experts of major research groups, within –but not limited to– the neuro-engineering and neuro-rehabilitation fields. The lecturers will introduce theory in mathematical methods for the estimation of cortical activity and connectivity in the human brain from non invasive neuro-electric and hemodynamic measurements. Moreover, the talks will address how the utmost techniques in neuro-engineering could meet the challenge of providing better services to disabled people. To complete the picture, the lessons will be combined with hands-on practical tutorials, presenting a Brain Computer Interface (BCI).

The summer school lectures will feature topics of emerging technologies in Biomedicine; specifically it will address the question of how to increase the quality of life of paraplegics in a neuro-engineering framework:

Brain Anatomy and Eletrophysiology
Wearable Biosensor Technology
Non Invasive Neuro-Electric and Hemodynamic Measurements
Molecular Brain Imaging
Functional Multimodal Neuro-Imaging Techniques
Advanced Brain Signal Processing Techniques
Methodologies for Brain Activity and Connectivity Analysis
Forward and Inverse Problem Methodology in EEG/MEG
Interfaces between Brain and Computers
Neuro-Engineering
Rehabilitation Technologies in Paraplegics
Hands-on Tutorials

The venue of the 4^th Summer School will be the Congress Centre of the University of Patras, Greece, situated in the middle of the campus, providing easy access to the university buildings and facilities (University library, restaurant, faculties, etc.) being in the same time within walking distance from the Rio city and seaside.

The high level of scientific presentations combined with the warm traditional Greek hospitality and the many events organized in Patras, Greece, will make this Summer School an enriching and pleasant experience for both speakers and students.

I am looking forward to seeing you in Patras,

Warm regards,

A. Bezerianos, Chairman