KAUST researcher Corrado Calì won an award at the Brainstorming Research Assembly for Young Neuroscientists (BraYn) in Italy for his work on glycogen modulation and synapse stabilization. Calì presented research in collaboration with KAUST Professor Andrea Falqui and Dr. Elena Vezzoli from the University of Milan, investigating the lactate shuttle's involvement in synaptic plasticity. Calì and KAUST colleagues are also collaborating with the Blue Brain Project to produce a computer simulation of astrocyte-neuron coupling, using 3D virtual reality to investigate brain cell morphologies at the nanoscale. Why it matters: This award recognizes KAUST's contribution to neuroscience research and highlights the university's collaborative efforts in understanding brain plasticity and developing advanced tools for studying brain structures.
Paul Liang from CMU presented on machine learning foundations for multisensory AI, discussing a theoretical framework for modality interactions. The talk covered cross-modal attention and multimodal transformer architectures, and applications in mental health, pathology, and robotics. Liang's research aims to enable AI systems to integrate and learn from diverse real-world sensory modalities. Why it matters: This highlights the growing importance of multimodal AI research and its potential for advancements across various sectors in the region, including healthcare and robotics.
KAUST researchers in the Sensors Lab are developing neuromorphic circuits for vision sensors, drawing inspiration from the human eye. They created flexible photoreceptors using hybrid perovskite materials, with capacitance tunable by light stimulation, mimicking the human retina. The team collaborates with experts in image characterization and brain pattern recognition to connect the 'eye' to the 'brain' for object identification. Why it matters: This biomimetic approach promises advancements in AI, machine learning, and smart city development within the region.
KAUST professor Pierre Magistretti has been elected to the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. His election recognizes his contributions to neuroscience, specifically his work on lactate's role in brain function. Magistretti's research focuses on the lactate shuttle system and how neurons and glial cells cooperate to meet energy demands. Why it matters: This honor highlights KAUST's contribution to international neuroscience and can foster further collaboration in the field.