Associate Professor Jack Judy

Fulbright Senior Scholar Award

Media Profile

“Science has understood there is a connection between electricity and the human body for more than 200 years. The use of microelectrodes and microelectronics in the nervous system has already yielded revolutionary advances in the treatment of deafness (cochlear implants) and Parkinson’s disease and promises to do the same for blindness, paralysis, and severe epilepsy.”

Professor Judy is one of five Americans to win a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award in 2005, to research at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) where he will collaborate with internationally acclaimed researcher Professor Nigel Lovell, developing research into retinal prostheses for the blind. Professor Judy holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and is currently an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Australia has been a leading country in the new field of Neuro-engineering and sensory prosthetics. Pioneering work done simultaneously in the 1960’s in Los Angeles and at the University of Melbourne, led to the development of the cochlear ear implant, which allows the deaf to hear. Professor Judy aims to form collaboration with Professor Lovell at UNSW who is doing internationally recognised research in the area of retinal prostheses for the blind, a technology requiring the use of high-density microelectrodes.

At UCLA, Professor Judy’s research team is presently investigating the use of planar arrays of microelectrodes to overcome limitations in existing electrode technology. In order to achieve full performance and high reliability, sophisticated stimulation circuitry is required to drive Judy’s proposed microelectrode array. Professor Nigel Lovell of UNSW has both the academic expertise and research equipment needed to undertake testing of the proposed array design.

“The challenge of creating effective neural-electronic interfaces is to achieve high electrode density to enable high-precision nerve stimulation whilst minimising tissue damage during electrode insertion and use, “ states Professor Judy. “ By developing pedagogical materials for use at UNSW and UCLA we will prepare the next generation of neuron-engineers to advance the opportunities for suffers of blindness.”

The outcome of Professors Judy and Lovell’s research will pave the way for future study into retinal prostheses and greatly improve the overall performance of existing microelectrode technology. By improving the overall performance of prostheses, the experience for patients, and the professional stature of the participants and institutions, there is great opportunity to take the developments out of the lab and into the commercial environment.