| 22 | 2024 Annual Report Dr. Nisan Ozana, a leading researcher at Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Engineering, is transforming the fields of neuroengineering and biomedical optics with his pioneering work in neuroimaging. Driven by a desire to unlock real-time insights into brain function, Dr. Ozana’s research focuses on developing highly sensitive, non-invasive neuroimaging technologies that measure cerebral blood flow for clinical and functional applications. His research promises to deepen our understanding of the brain and improve medical outcomes, such as for patients who face brain injuries or require brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for movement assistance. His research promises to deepen our understanding of the brain and improve medical outcomes, particularly for patients who face brain injuries or require brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for movement assistance. “My work sits at the intersection of engineering, neuroimaging and neuroscience,” Ozana explains. He recalls the start of his career in neuroengineering, where he first began applying optical sensing to the brain. “I first saw the limitations of fMRI in measuring brain responses in real-time. That’s what led me to explore optical methods for functional imaging,” he shares. This experience propelled him toward his postdoctoral research, where he developed highsensitivity systems for measuring cerebral blood flow. Today, Ozana’s lab at Bar-Ilan University continues to push the boundaries of non-invasive neuroimaging with cutting-edge optical and acoustical methods. A significant focus of Dr. Ozana's current research is the use of diffuse optics and speckle sensing for neuroimaging. These techniques, which assess blood flow in the brain, have traditionally faced issues with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the past, limiting their effectiveness. “To overcome this, we’re using simple megapixel cameras which allow us to measure the photons that travel through the skull and brain tissues using spatio-temporal speckle analysis and interact with the brain tissue,” Ozana explains. “These sensors enable us to detect and measure cerebral blood flow signals at high sensitivity, which is key when dealing with such subtle signals,” he adds. New Faculty Pioneering Non-Invasive Neuroimaging Dr. Nisan Ozana
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