Research Goals

Advancing Human Health: Pioneering Bioelectronic Medicine for a Better Future

Wentai Liu, PhD, Distinguished Professor and J.M. Maguire Endowed Chair, UCLA

    • For more than four decades, I have dedicated my career to merging biology with electronics to improve human health. From helping the blind regain their sight to enabling individuals with spinal cord injuries to walk again, my passion has always been rooted in pushing the boundaries of what bioengineering can achieve. My journey has taken me from pioneering groundbreaking technologies in the United States to forging international collaborations, and now, my current work in bioelectronic therapies holds the potential to revolutionize medical treatments in ways I never imagined.

 

    • Early in my career, I was inspired by the transformative power of biomimetic microelectronic systems. As an Alcoa Foundation Chair Professor at North Carolina State University and later the Campus Director of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center at UC Santa Cruz, I led an engineering team that developed a retinal prosthesis—a technology that allowed blind individuals to regain their sight – https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=126756. This project was not only a professional milestone for me but also deeply personal, as it exemplified my commitment to applying engineering solutions to address real human needs. Witnessing individuals see again for the first time remains one of the most fulfilling moments of my career.

 

    • In 2011, I joined UCLA, where my focus expanded to include spinal cord injuries and brain-machine interfaces. My passion for creating technologies that enhance the human experience has been the driving force behind my work. I am proud that my research has had tangible impacts on people’s lives, including the commercialization of retinal implants for the blind (ARGUS-II® by Second Sight Inc.) and up limb motor-function restoration devices for spinal cord injuries (SCI) (ISO 13485-certified ExaStim® by Aneuvo Biomedical Inc). These technologies are now providing hope and improved quality of life to patients around the world.

 

    • Recently, my research has taken an exciting turn into the realm of bioelectronic medicine. This field focuses on the intricate cross-coupling of neurogenic and molecular pathways across the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems (CNS, PNS, and ANS). My research has the potential to transform treatments for conditions like blindness, SCI mobility, GI motility deficiency, immune and metabolic disorders, pain, and cognitive decline. Collaborating with researchers and physicians at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University, I have been exploring a new class of therapies, which I call “electropeutics.” These therapies utilize electrical neuromodulation at the sciatic nerve, which innervates bone marrow, a key organ for hematopoiesis. Our goal is to mitigate the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and reduce mortality by promoting blood cell production without relying on additional drugs (e.g., GCSF)—an achievement that could redefine supportive cancer care for 19 million patients worldwide each year and 1.9 million in the USA, according to the WHO. Our initial results, published in Small Methods, are promising, showing that electrical stimulation can prompt bone marrow to produce blood cells and platelets.

 

    • Additionally, my team has demonstrated that electrical neuromodulation of the sciatic nerve can modify pain thresholds, addressing neuropathic pain by altering satellite cell phenotypes in the dorsal root ganglion along ascending pain pathways, and upregulating descending serotonin pathways. This non-invasive approach to pain management represents a breakthrough in accessing the peripheral and central pain pathways. Our findings have been published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation and Journal of Translational Medicine.

 

    • Thanks to support from the NIH SPARC program and collaborations with VA researchers, my lab is also investigating motility issues regulated by the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract, an area with limited prior exploration. This work has led to the proposal of an ingestible device for clinical applications, and commercialization is underway with Aneuvo Biomedical Inc. (https://aneuvo.com), which I co-founded.

 

    • Through UCLA, we have filed multiple patents on bioelectronic medicine based on Electrical Sympathetic Neuromodulation (ESN). In my Biomimetic Research Lab, we are preparing for clinical trials to evaluate ESN’s potential for treating chemotherapy-induced cytopenia and neuropathic pain. We are also extending this work to address Cancer-Induced Peripheral/Central Neuropathic Pain (CIPN/CICN).

 

    • My recent Alzheimer’s Disease research, using transgenic APP-J20 mouse models and wireless hippocampal LFP recordings in over 70 mice, revealed abnormal brain signals like inter-epileptic discharges and high-frequency ripples preceding amyloid-beta accumulation. These findings, presented at AAIC 2024, suggest that early detection via precise EEG recordings may enable targeted electrical neuromodulation to slow cognitive decline.

 

    • These works represent a paradigm shift, positioning neuromodulation as a tool not only for restoring function but also for regulating disease states. The potential applications of bioelectronic medicine extend far beyond cancer treatment, offering non-pharmaceutical alternatives for conditions like cancer care, chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, nerve regeneration, and metabolism deficiency.

 

    • Throughout my career, I have believed in the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of mentorship. I have had the privilege of supporting and mentoring many young researchers and scientists, encouraging them to think across disciplines to develop innovative solutions. My work at UCLA is supported by various sources, including the NSF ERC-BMES, DOE Artificial Retinal Project, NIH Brain Initiatives, BRP, SPARC, STTR Programs, Philanthropic Funds, and Taiwan’s Ministry of Education’s Yushan Fellow Program. I am fortunate to be part of a dynamic research community dedicated to advancing human health.

 

    • Bioelectronic medicine is still in its early stages, and like all transformative technologies, it requires rigorous testing and validation before it can be adopted in clinical settings. However, I am confident in its potential to offer new hope to patients facing challenging medical conditions. My goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible, combining my expertise in electrical engineering with a profound commitment to advancing human health. I plan to lead large-scale proposals that address the complex interactions between neurogenic and molecular pathways involved in immune and metabolic conditions, especially as they relate to the aging process.

 

    • I look forward to continuing this journey, driven by the belief that the future of medicine lies not only in drugs and surgery but also in harnessing the power of bioelectronics to improve lives. This Lab would offer an incredible opportunity to further the mission of bringing bioelectronic medicine one step closer to transforming healthcare for millions of patients worldwide.

 

Regain eyesight for the blind