Shy Shoham, PhD

My research as a neural engineer is primarily focused on developing new techniques for interfacing with the nervous system, that is, manipulating and imaging neural activity. The broad aim of this work is to provide new insights into the brain’s neural codes as well as to develop new medical technologies for tackling brain disorders.

Two key approaches that my lab utilizes harness infrared light and ultrasound towards the development of innovative neurotechnologies. By tightly focusing light or ultrasound we can probe neural activity with very high spatial and temporal precision.  My colleagues and I are trying to reveal the biophysical mechanisms whereby focused ultrasound directly interacts with neural circuits to generate ultrasonic neuromodulation.  This emerging technology is very significant because ultrasound can be tightly focused even through the human skull. Furthermore, we have shown that by creating optical or acoustic holograms we can parallelize such approaches and generate spatiotemporal excitation patterns. We are also developing hybrid techniques that combine light and ultrasound to enable versatile new neurotechnologies.

As co-director of the Tech4Health institute, I also oversee an extensive R&D program aimed at delivering technological solutions across NYU Langone Health. Our institute provides a unique hub for addressing our community's unmet clinical and scientific technological needs.