Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems awarded the University of Maryland Baltimore County $176,760 under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) effective October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2026. This Project Grant supports the development of a fully wireless, flexible electrical-acoustic implant system capable of high-resolution neural stimulation and recording at large scale. The research addresses a critical gap in neuroscience by enabling minimally invasive ultrasound neuromodulation with spatial resolution below 200 micrometers across the entire brain, substantially improving upon current noninvasive techniques that lack sufficient spatial resolution and invasive methods that provide only limited neural coverage.

The deliverables under this award include the design and validation of an innovative neural interface technology with potential clinical applications for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders and developing brain-machine interfaces in human subjects. The project integrates fundamental research with educational and workforce development components, targeting K-12 teachers and students, as well as undergraduate and graduate trainees to build an interdisciplinary workforce capable of advancing neural interface science. The award contributes to NSF's broader objective of fostering innovation and excellence in engineering research while providing practical solutions to advance neuroscience understanding and therapeutic capabilities.