Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

My principal interest is in neural engineering: using engineering techniques to understand and control neural function. Our research and development activities focus on neural prostheses - devices that use electrical activation of the nervous system to restore function to individuals with neurological impairment – and our activities include design and testing of electrodes and methods for electrical stimulation, development and application of computational approaches to study neural stimulation, and physiological and translational studies of neural control, with applications in two primary areas: peripheral nerve stimulation restoration of bladder function and brain stimulation for treatment of movement disorders.

Postdoctoral Course, Neural Systems and Behavior, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 1995

Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical Engineering, 1995

M.S., Case Western Reserve University, Biomedical Engineering, 1992

B.S., Boston University, Biomedical Engineering, 1989

Kayagil TA, Grimes JP, Grill WM (2008) Mechanisms underlying reversal of motor unit activation order during electrically evoked contractions in spinal cord injury. Muscle & Nerve 37(2):210-218.

Peng CW, Chen JJ, Cheng CL, Grill WM (2008) Role of pudendal afferents in voiding efficiency in the rat. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology, 294:660-672.

Birdno MJ, Kuncel AM, Dorval AD, Turner DA, Grill WM (2008) Tremor varies as a function of the temporal regularity of deep brain stimulation. NeuroReport 19(5):599-602.