Dr Milena Korostenska has visited the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University to introduce the latest topic in neurobiology, directly contributing to the successful execution of the Systems Biology programme.
Students, neurology residents, and doctoral students at the Faculty of Medicine had the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and discuss the topic with the lecturer. Professor Audronė Jakaitienė, coordinator of the Systems Biology Programme, said, ‘the brain–computer interface and modelling of this interface were the subject of many questions and computational suggestions not only from students, but also from the Department of Statistics. VU scientists had the opportunity to broaden and deepen their knowledge of recent advances in computer-to-brain interface modelling. We are grateful to the VU Strategic Foundation, which contributed to the funding of this initiative.’ After her sucessful visit, Dr Korostenskaya discussed the possibility with Prof Jakaitienė that she might again teach in the Systems Biology programme. Let us find out the scientist’s own impressions of the visit.
Dr Korostenskaja, we are very pleased to have you in Lithuania as a guest and lecturer. Could you briefly tell us about yourself?
First and foremost, I am a scientist. My interest in research started when I entered the graduate Neurobiology programme at Vilnius University. I was among the first six students admitted to it. Words like neurobiology and neuroscience were unfamiliar to most people at that time. This was a cutting edge educational program developed by Vilnius University (Prof Osvaldas Ruksenas). Since then, I have received my PhD and acquired a background in brain imaging techniques such as electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, and electrocorticography. I have strengthened my research skills at various clinical research sites around the world, including Helsinki University Central Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Right now, I work as a clinical research scientist leading the Brain–Computer Interface Program at AdventHealth Orlando in Orlando, Florida, USA. My main focus is on the Epilepsy Center at AdventHealth Orlando to help guide epilepsy surgery by creating individual functional brain maps for surgical candidates. My main goal is to establish the Adaptive Neurotechnology Clinic, where the latest innovations in the field of brain–computer interfaces will be utilised to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life of patients.
What are your main areas of scientific interest?
Brain imaging in humans has always been my main area of interest. Finding the neural substrates of information processing is one of the fascinating opportunities that brain imaging offers. My keen interest in the neural underpinnings of human behavior brought me to the field of adaptive neurotechnologies. ANs enable real-time interactions between the nervous system and the environment around and within us. The primary goals of ANs include facilitation of changes in neuroplasticity; enhancement, restoration or replacement of neuromuscular functions; and localisation and evaluation of brain activity. ANs have been developed over the past few years to improve the quality of life of people with severe disabilities. ANs applications have recently been extended to various research areas, such as rapid functional brain mapping, virtual reality, and motor rehabilitation after stroke. This field is rapidly evolving and introducing major innovations into the field of clinical research and practice.
Please tell us about your connection with students. Do you like working with young people?
I enjoy working with students and often serve as a mentor for their graduate research projects. One of my recent VU students received the best poster award at the Lithuanian Neuroscience Association Conference in 2018. I also have a passion for teaching both undergraduate and graduate students. I teach neuroscience and research-related courses such as behavioral neuroscience and human sensory perception at the University of North Florida and research methods at AdventHealth University. In addition, I have been teaching a course I developed, Adaptive Neurotechnology, at Vilnius University since 2017. Finally, I love sharing my knowledge and expertise with students and colleagues. I do it by giving lectures and hands-on workshops at different places around the world.
Do you have any thoughts about our new programme, Systems Biology? What future does it have?
I think that the Systems Biology programme provides its graduates with a competitive edge for employment and career advancement opportunities. In this era of prodigious technological development, the health sciences need specialists who can extract meaningful information from clinical data. An ability to work with clinical data helps develop new treatments and improve treatment outcomes. This is what students in the Systems Biology programme are taught to do. From my own experience working for years in clinical settings, I can say that specialists in systems biology are in high demand and are on the priority lists for hiring in thousands of institutions worldwide.
What was the main purpose of this trip to Vilnius and what did you expect from Lithuanian audiences?
The purpose of my trip was to share my knowledge and expertise in cutting-edge research, such as brain–computer interfaces, with various groups of students and professionals. I appreciate the invitation from Prof Audrone Jalkaitiene and Prof Osvaldas Ruksenas for this outstanding opportunity. First of all, I gave a talk entitled ‘Brain–Machine Interfaces (BMIs): Current State and Clinical Application’ to master’s degree students in system biology, medical residents, PhD students, and clinicians as a part of the Science Forum course. Second, during my talk entitled ‘Advancing the Field of Pre-surgical Functional Brain Mapping: A Multidisciplinary Approach with Incorporated Machine Learning’, I communicated with computer science, mathematics, and statistics specialists who are interested in exploring the rapidly developing field of brain–computer interfaces. Finally, together with my long-term collaborators from the company G-tec (Austria), I offered a day-long programme of lectures and hands-on training as an event preceding the 2019 Lithuanian Neuroscience Society conference in Kaunas. I want to thank Prof Ausra Saudargiene and Prof Rima Naginiene for their hospitality and help in arranging this workshop. Between all these events, I also got the chance be a member of the doctoral thesis defense committee for a very talented student at Vilnius University.
Were your expectations met?
Yes, absolutely. All my expectations were met. I received a strong response regarding the topic of my talks from all the audiences wherever I spoke. I saw genuine interest from different people concerning the use and development of brain–computer interface technologies in Lithuania and worldwide, as well as about possible educational opportunities in the field of BCIs in Lithuania. I was able to clarify many questions that both students and professionals had regarding the topic of my lectures. Moreover, I have developed new opportunities for collaboration with people whom I met during my visit to Lithuania. I have also discussed the continuation of my current collaborative research projects with colleagues whom I have been actively working with for several consecutive years in Lithuania.
How do you feel about returning to your alma mater?
I have a sense of gratitude and accomplishment at the same time. First of all, I feel grateful for the opportunity to give back to Vilnius University by sharing with VU students and faculty the knowledge and experience I have acquired over my years of research and studies. Second, I feel quite satisfied to be able to introduce and spread innovative ideas. It reminds me of the times I brought new technologies and approaches to Lithuania in the past. For example, after learning evoked potential techniques at the University of Manchester and Helsinki University, I established a cognitive evoked potentials programme at Vilnius Republican Psychiatric Hospital. Seeing the results of my previous work inspires me to do it again by bringing VU new ideas and technologies such as brain–computer interfaces.