The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced additional funding for the neurotechnology research, development and enhancement program. Zack Lynch at Brain Waves points out that "neurotechnology is being driven by the convergence of advances in Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Biotechnology and Cognitive Science." The National Nanotechnology Initiative over the past decade, is now targeting the National Science Foundation's attention on creating a similiar initiative to understand how these technologies will create new tools to enhance human performance.
Some of the topic areas include:
Information Technology
1. Software to translate neuroimaging data from one data format into another
2. Algorithms for understanding human neuroimaging data
3. Tools for real-time analysis of neurophysiological events
4. Dynamic monitors of intracranial pressure and spinal fluid composition
5. Devices for non-invasive diagnosis and precise identification of pathogens
6. Tools, technologies and algorithms for neuroprosthesis development
7. Non-invasive tools to assess damage, monitor function in brain tissue
8. Tools for data mining into genomics and proteomics of the nervous system
Certainly worth exploring.