(Chair)
Neuroengineer and pioneer in development of brain-machine interfaces for rehabilitation and restoration of movement and brain-art interfaces;
Cullen Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Houston;
Full Affiliate, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute;
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Sciences and Engineering, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico
Director, Human-Machine Interface Systems, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR), Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas
Dr. Pepe Contreras-Vidal is Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the National Science Foundation-funded Research Center for Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology (IUCRC BRAIN) at the University of Houston. He was a visiting Professor at the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) and Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris, France; and has been a Fellow of the City of Paris (France), the Human Frontiers Science Program (Switzerland), NATO (Trieste), and the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). Dr. Contreras-Vidal was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) for significant contributions to medical and biological engineering, including contributions to brain-machine interfaces (BMI) and wearable exoskeletons to restore motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury, stroke and other movement disabilities. His work at the nexus of art and science is opening new windows to study the neural basis of aesthetic perception and creativity in children and adults, and the development of innovative brain-art interfaces. His laboratory for Non-invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems has collaborated with professional dancers, musicians, creative writers, film directors, visual and other performing artists to understand the brain response to the arts and creativity, while developing artistic neural interfaces. In addition to the current LiveWire collaboration, Dr. Contreras-Vidal is collaborating with visual abstract artist Geraldine Interiano Wise at the intersection of artificial intelligence, art and neuroengineering.
Dr. Contreras-Vidal have edited the book Mobile Brain-Body Imaging and the Neuroscience of Art, Innovation and Creativity to identify the challenges and opportunities for engaging the creative arts, design practices, science, engineering and technology to promote creativity and innovation leading to novel approaches to solving complex challenges in science, education and medicine. Dr. Contreras-Vidal is a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research (NABMRR) and his research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Mission Connect – A TIRR Foundation, the Houston Methodist Foundation, the Cullen Foundation, the University of Houston Technology Gap Fund, industry, and philanthropy. His research has appeared in The Economist, Nature, Der Spiegel, NPR, Scientific American, and Wall Street Journal among others.
Faculty Website
University of Houston Brain-Machine Interface Systems Team