Fiammetta Pennisi
Head of Art-Science
Tech-Powered Healing: Transforming the Way We Repair and Restore the Human Body
Join us for a dynamic half-day event exploring how neuroscience, robotics, and next-generation interfaces are revolutionizing the way we heal, restore, and enhance the human body. From breakthroughs in hearing restoration to flexible brain-machine interfaces, early diagnosis of neurological disorders, and assistive exoskeletons, discover how cutting-edge science is expanding the boundaries of medicine, inclusion, and human potential. Leading experts will share the latest innovations at the intersection of mind, machine, and mobility. Be part of the conversation shaping the future of health and human capability.
Speakers
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Bio
Stéphanie Lacour
Vice-president for Support to Strategic Initiatives and Full Professor, Foundation Bertarelli Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology, EPFLStéphanie P. Lacour holds the Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology in the School of Engineering at EPFL and leads the Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces.
She received her PhD in Electrical Engineering from INSA de Lyon, France, and completed postdoctoral research at Princeton University and the University of Cambridge. She was elected a 2015 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
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Bio
Tsuyoshi Sekitani
Professor, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, The University of OsakaTsuyoshi Sekitani is a leading Japanese scientist recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of flexible and stretchable electronics. He currently holds the honorary title of Distinguished Professor at the University of Osaka. He is affiliated with the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), the University of Osaka
where he serves as Professor and leads the Department of Advanced Electron Devices, widely known as the Sekitani Lab.
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Bio
Olaf Blanke
Full Professor, Foundation Bertarelli Chair in Cognitive Neuroprosthetic, EPFLOlaf Blanke is founding director of the Center for Neuroprosthetics and holds the Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Cognitive Neuroprosthetics at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He directs the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience at EPFL and is Professor of Neurology at the University Hospital of Geneva. -
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Bio
Mohamed Bouri
Senior Scientist, Group Leader at REHAssist, EPFLDr. Mohamed Bouri is a group leader of Rehabilitation and Assistive Robotics in LSRO and lecturer of Robotics and Industrial Robotics. He graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1992 and obtained his PhD degree in 1997 in Industrial Automation at INSA LYON, France. Since 1997, he is at EPFL and is mainly active in the field of robot control, automation and robot design for medical and industrial applications.
Program
- 10:00am – Welcome speech by the Pavilion Management
- 10:05am – Welcomed by Stéphanie Lacour, Vice-president for Support to Strategic Initiatives and Full Professor, Foundation Bertarelli Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology, EPFL
- 10:10am – Presentation entitled “Restoring hearing with technology: from Cochlear implants to Brainstem interfaces” by Stéphanie Lacour followed by a Q&A
- 10:40am – Presentation entitled “Brain-machine interface utilizing flexible electronics” by Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Professor, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, The University of Osaka followed by a Q&A
- 11:10am – Coffee break
- 11:35am – Presentation entitled “Technodelics Combining robotics, virtual reality and neurotechnology for early diagnosis of hallucinations and dementia in Parkinson’s disease” by Olaf Blanke, Full Professor, Foundation Bertarelli Chair in Cognitive Neuroprosthetic, EPFL followed by a Q&A
- 12:05pm – Presentation entitled “Powered Exoskeletons for an Inclusive Society” by Mohamed Bouri, Senior Scientist, Group Leader at REHAssist, EPFL followed by a Q&A
- 12:35pm – Closing words by Stéphanie Lacour
- 12:45pm – Guided tour of the Swiss Pavilion offered by Presence Suisse (English only)
- 1:05pm – Networking Event
iCal / Outlook
Event start time
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Boston and New York
9:00PM -
Brazil
10:00PM -
China
9:00AM -
India
6:30AM -
Japan
10:00AM -
San Francisco
6:00PM -
Switzerland
3:00AM
Organized by EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), this half-day event explores how cutting-edge science and technology are transforming the way we repair, restore, and augment the human body. Through a series of expert talks and live discussion, the event showcases global leaders in neuroscience, robotics, and neuroprosthetics who are pioneering new frontiers in human health and ability.
Opening the program is Prof. Stéphanie Lacour, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology at EPFL. A world-renowned expert in soft bioelectronic interfaces, she will present her groundbreaking work on restoring hearing using cochlear implants and brainstem interfaces. Next, Prof. Tsuyoshi Sekitani from the University of Osaka, a pioneer in flexible and stretchable electronics, will introduce his latest research in brain-machine interfaces that integrate seamlessly with the human body.
Following a coffee break, Prof. Olaf Blanke, founding director of EPFL’s Center for Neuroprosthetics, will present an innovative approach to diagnosing neurological disorders using “technodelics”, a fusion of robotics, virtual reality, and neurotechnology designed to detect early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Closing the speaker program is Dr. Mohamed Bouri, senior scientist at EPFL and leader of the REHAssist group. He will highlight advancements in wearable robotics, including the TWIICE and AUTONOMYO exoskeletons, which aim to restore mobility and autonomy for people with neuromuscular impairments.
The event concludes with a guided tour of the Swiss Pavilion (in English only) and a networking cocktail. Simultaneous interpretation in Japanese will be provided. Join us to discover how technology is reshaping the future of health, inclusion, and human potential.
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