Building Bridges: Israeli neurotech students visit Providence

PROVIDENCE — Innovation knows no borders.

This summer, students from Brown University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev came together here for the intensive two-week “Neurotechnology Hackathon.”

Working side by side in interdisciplinary teams, the students combined neuroscience, engineering, entrepreneurship and creativity to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges, transforming science into products using market-based research and business development. Guided by faculty mentors and professionals from academia and industry, the teams tackled current challenges in neuroscience and neurotechnology while learning from one another across cultures, disciplines and backgrounds.

This is the second summer that this program has taken place.

An introductory event at the end of the first week was hosted by Julie Owens, CEO of the Social Enterprise Greenhouse, a Rhode Island nonprofit supporting entrepreneurs and enterprises that create positive social, environmental and economic impact. She compared Rhode Island and Israel, saying they are both small in area but have big footprints in technological innovation.

Avi Nevel, CEO of the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative, which facilitated the collaboration, introduced Professor Oren Shriki of Ben-Gurion and Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island’s secretary of commerce. Pryor discussed the physical and programmatic infrastructure in Rhode Island that exists to assist entrepreneurial innovators — like the students involved in the collaboration.

In 2019, Pryor and then-Gov. Gina Raimondo participated in a trip to Israel that promoted academic and business ties between Rhode Island and Israel.

Among those present at the event were representatives of the Consulate General of Israel to New England and Eve Rubinstein of the American Friends of Ben-Gurion University. Some members of the audience, including Owens and Pryor, provided feedback following each student presentation.

Fifteen students in four teams presented their ideas. The first team, named Tantoo, is developing cute stickers that monitor biomarkers (such as body temperature and heart rate), tracking developing tantrums so that parents can handle them more effectively. Though they are a natural part of development, problems can arise depending on how parents handle tantrums, which build over time rather than suddenly breaking out.

SonaV, the second team, also dealt with stress, though in young adults who may lack a personalized way to reduce distressing sounds while remaining aware of important social and situational information. The team is preparing software for earplugs and headphones that adapts noise cancellation to specific situations, also based on biomarkers. This product could also be useful in exposure therapy.

The third team, VesselLume, noted that 80% of strokes can be prevented just before they happen. They are preparing a product that can use existing devices to map components of clots and predict the risk of strokes. This tool would provide continuous, frictionless physiological tracking using bioluminescence and could be useful in both research and clinical applications.

Syncadian, the final team, is developing a product to detect and realign misalignment of a person’s circadian rhythm. A temporary solution to a temporary problem, it might be especially useful for doctors, pilots, truck drivers or simply people with jet lag. The product might be marketed especially through insurance companies that cater to the medical profession and other industries where split-second decisions may be affected by practitioners who are not completely alert.

Neurotechnology is one of the fastest-growing areas of science and innovation. By combining neuroscience with engineering, artificial intelligence, computer science and medicine, researchers are developing technologies that are transforming our understanding of the human brain. These advances have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, enhance rehabilitation, improve mental health and create entirely new approaches to personalized medicine. The ideas presented by these students represent the next generation of thinking in this rapidly evolving field.

Some of the world's greatest innovations begin when people from different countries and disciplines come together to solve complex problems. The collaboration between Brown University and Ben-Gurion University demonstrates the power of international partnerships to inspire creativity, accelerate discovery and prepare future scientific and entrepreneurial leaders. Programs like this strengthen the growing partnership between Rhode Island and Israel while creating opportunities for future collaborations among universities, researchers, healthcare organizations, entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders.

The collaborators for this program are Brown University’s Carney Institute for Brain Science, Ben-Gurion University and the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative.

The Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science brings together neuroscientists, engineers, physicians, computer scientists and entrepreneurs to better understand the brain and develop technologies that improve human health. The Brown-Ben-Gurion University Neurotechnology Hackathon reflects the institute's commitment to interdisciplinary research, experiential learning and international collaboration, providing students with an opportunity to work on meaningful challenges alongside leading faculty members and industry professionals.

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, located in Beersheba, Israel, is one of Israel's leading research universities and an internationally recognized center for innovation. BGU is renowned for excellence in neuroscience, engineering, medicine, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, sustainability and entrepreneurship.

The Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening business, academic, research, healthcare and innovation partnerships between Rhode Island and Israel. Through strategic collaborations, educational initiatives and professional exchanges, RIIC connects universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, businesses and community leaders to promote innovation, economic growth and lasting international relationships.

LAWRENCE M. KATZ is a board member of the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative.