Next-generation implantable neurostimulators enable sensing of neural activity, allowing real-time responsiveness and closed-loop stimulation. Some device systems also incorporate research-enabling features such as wireless streaming and API-based custom programming. Along with unprecedented opportunity, these advanced technologies also pose technical and regulatory challenges for researchers. OpenMind provides a forum for sharing know-how, software tools, templates, reference documents and other resources that can save time and research dollars for individual teams, and accelerate innovation and progress in the field more broadly.
The OpenMind consortium benefits currently-funded clinical research programs while also supporting the entry of new investigators into the rapidly evolving ecosystem of implantable wireless neural interfaces. Our founding leadership group represents major clinical areas of interest in advanced neuromodulation, including movement disorders (UCSF), epilepsy (Mayo Clinic), and psychiatry (Brown/Baylor), and includes experts in the design and dissemination of implantable devices (Oxford), and in neuroethics. All Consortium members are are encourage to contribute resources and knowledge and participate in OpenMind workshops and technical calls.
Our goal is to provide investigators with critical elements for the launch and development of their own clinical studies. See our “Tools & Resources” page to navigate to OpenMind tools, and our “Feedback” page to suggest new features or ask a question of the OpenMind leadership team.
Typically, medical device manufacturers that provide investigational devices for research use require contracts between institutions and their company. These contracts cover intellectual property rights and govern what information must be kept private. See the NIH BRAIN public private partnerships program for more detailed examples of such contracts. To comply with these contracts, OpenMind resources, including the OpenMind GitHub code repository, must be stripped of all proprietary or confidential information by contributing consortium members prior to sharing, thereby enabling their maintenance as a public resource.
It is critical that each user with existing agreements with medical device manufactures not contribute confidential or proprietary information or data to the public repository.
The Consortium is open to all members of the research community and includes academic teams, device manufacturers and industry colleagues, patient advocates, neuroethics specialists, and federal stakeholders including the NIH and FDA. Interested in joining our Consortium and keeping abreast of upcoming activities? Join us! Click here to learn more.