Faculty Affairs and Academic Programs
Hyoyoung Jeong
Engineering and Computer Science
Electrical and Computer Engineering
UC Davis
Establishing Growth-Accommodating, Biodegradable Neuromodulation Systems for Children with Epilepsy
My research goal is to establish a new class of growth-accommodating, minimally invasive neuromodulation systems tailored for children with neurological disorders, particularly pediatric epilepsy. Current epilepsy technologies are designed for adults and are not suitable for pediatric patients due to anatomical mismatch, infection risks from transdermal hardware, repeated surgeries, and device failure caused by growth-related strain. These limitations create a critical gap in care during the early developmental years. To address this, I aim to develop a pediatric bridge therapy that integrates two complementary platforms integrating a fully biodegradable, wireless intracranial stimulator and a skin-interfaced electronic tattoo (e-tattoo) for real-time seizure detection. The implant is designed to deliver personalized stimulation over a defined therapeutic window and then safely dissolve via electromagnetic activation, avoiding surgical removal while enabling intentional resorption when the child becomes eligible for permanent intervention. The e-tattoo will provide wireless energy transfer, continuous brain activity monitoring, and Bluetooth communication, enabling a closed-loop system that autonomously detects and mitigates seizures during daily life. My research goal aligns with the Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award, which supports bold, milestone-driven ideas not yet competitive for federal funding. This award would enable a major career milestone by generating foundational data, validating feasibility, and positioning this work for future NIH and NSF support, while establishing UC as a leader in pediatric neurotechnology and clinical electronics.
