BIOELECTRONIC MEDICINE
At NeuroEngLab, we develop custom-designed neural interfaces and implantable electrodes that selectively stimulate the vagus nerve to modulate organ function and metabolic processes. By combining advanced neuroengineering, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence, we aim to create next-generation neuroprostheses capable of restoring physiological regulation and providing personalized therapies for metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.
Media
Lecture: Combining prosthetics and artificial inteligence for neurorehabilitation
Reletated publications
- Ciotti F, Cimolato A, Gozzi N, Palopoli P, Brugnoli L, Secerovic NK, Gallivan R, Shokurov A, Menon C, Weichart J, Delgado‐Martinez I. From In‐Silico Optimized Microfabrication to Experimental Validation: Engineering a Tridimensional Epi‐Intraneural Interface. Advanced Functional Materials. 2026 Feb;36(14):e22367.
- Ienca M, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Clinical trials for implantable neural prostheses: understanding the ethical and technical requirements. The Lancet Digital Health. 2025 Mar 1;7(3):e216-24.
- Ciotti F, John R, Katic Secerovic N, Gozzi N, Cimolato A, Jayaprakash N, Song W, Toth V, Zanos T, Zanos S, Raspopovic S. Towards enhanced functionality of vagus neuroprostheses through in silico optimized stimulation. Nature Communications. 2024 Jul 20;15(1):6119.
- Ciotti F, Cimolato A, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Design of an adaptable intrafascicular electrode (AIR) for selective nerve stimulation by model-based optimization. PLOS Computational Biology. 2023 May 25;19(5):e1011184.
DIGITAL HEALTH
Our digital health research focuses on developing immersive and data-driven rehabilitation technologies for people living with neurological impairments. We combine virtual reality, wearable sensors, and non-invasive neurostimulation to monitor patient recovery and deliver personalized multisensory interventions. These technologies support motor recovery, sensory restoration, and improved body awareness, while enabling objective assessment of rehabilitation progress. Our goal is to create engaging, effective, and scalable digital therapies that can extend beyond the clinic into everyday life.
Media
Publication: Immersive virtual reality with synchronous neurostimulation for upper-limb recovery after stroke
Reletated publications
- Aurucci GV, Gozzi N, Cimolato A, Wagner M, Zipser CM, Raspopovic S. Sensory and cortical biomarkers unveil pain modulation mechanisms induced by targeted multisensory neurostimulation. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 2026 Apr 29.
- Aurucci, G.V., Gozzi, N., Wagner, M., Preatoni, G., Brunello, N., Cimolato, A., Secerovic, N., Zipser, C.M. and Raspopovic, S., 2025. Targeted neural stimulation congruent with immersive reality decreases neuropathic pain. Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation, 18(5), pp.1671-1674.
- Aurucci GV, Preatoni G, Risso G, Raspopovic S. Amputees but not healthy subjects optimally integrate non-spatially matched visuo-tactile stimuli. Iscience. 2025 Jan 17;28(1).
- Gozzi N, Preatoni G, Ciotti F, Hubli M, Schweinhardt P, Curt A, Raspopovic S. Unraveling the physiological and psychosocial signatures of pain by machine learning. Med. 2024 Dec 13;5(12):1495-509.
- Aurucci GV, Preatoni G, Damiani A, Raspopovic S. Brain-computer interface to deliver individualized multisensory intervention for neuropathic pain. Neurotherapeutics. 2023 Sep 1;20(5):1316-29.
- Bucciarelli V, Gozzi N, Katic N, Aiello G, Razzoli M, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Multiparametric non-linear TENS modulation to integrate intuitive sensory feedback. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2023 Jun 1;20(3):036026.
- Preatoni G, Dell’Eva F, Valle G, Pedrocchi A, Raspopovic S. Reshaping the full body illusion through visuo-electro-tactile sensations. Plos one. 2023 Feb 1;18(2):e0280628.
- Risso G, Preatoni G, Valle G, Marazzi M, Bracher NM, Raspopovic S. Multisensory stimulation decreases phantom limb distortions and is optimally integrated. IScience. 2022 Apr 15;25(4).
- Preatoni G, Valle G, Petrini FM, Raspopovic S. Lightening the perceived prosthesis weight with neural embodiment promoted by sensory feedback. Current Biology. 2021 Mar 8;31(5):1065-71.
SENSORIMOTOR BIONICS
Through our sensorimotor bionics pillar, we design technologies that restore the connection between the nervous system, the body, and the external world. We develop upper- and lower-limb assistive devices, combining neural bidirectional interfaces with wearable robotic systems, to improve mobility, independence, and quality of life for people with neurological injuries, limb loss, or motor impairments.
Media
Publication: Merging neural stimulation and exoskeletons to enhance hand functions in neurological patients
Neuroprosthetics Virtual Summer School: From Ionic to Bionic
TCCI BMI Conference: Nerve-Machine Interface for Neurorehabilitation
TEDxPodgorica: Bionic hand restores touch to amputees
Reletated publications
- Cimolato A, Cekić D, Katić Šećerović N, Razzoli M, Missiroli F, Dittli J, Palopoli P, Bellomo S, Kenel J, Dedijer Dujović S, Frese S, Masia L, Djordjevic O, Lambercy O, Valle G, Konstantinovicet L, Raspopovic S. Merging neural stimulation and exoskeletons to enhance sensorimotor hand functions after brain or spinal cord injury. Science Advances. 2026;12(25):ady3144. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ady3144.
- Cimolato A, Sparapani A, Raspopovic S. Technologies in clinical neurophysiology for brain-body interfacing: IFCN handbook chapter. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2026 May 3:2111913.
- Gozzi N, Chee L, Odermatt I, Kikkert S, Preatoni G, Valle G, Pfender N, Beuschlein F, Wenderoth N, Zipser C, Raspopovic S. Wearable non-invasive neuroprosthesis for targeted sensory restoration in neuropathy. Nature Communications. 2024 Dec 30;15(1):10840.
- Cimolato A, Raspopovic S. Closing the sensory feedback loop is necessary for effective neurorehabilitation. Plos Biology. 2024 Oct 29;22(10):e3002866.
- Cervera-Negueruela M, Chee L, Cimolato A, Valle G, Tschopp M, Menke M, Papazoglou A, Raspopovic S. Bionic blink improves real-time eye closure in unilateral facial paralysis. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2024 Apr 1;21(2):026020.
- Secerovic NK, Balaguer JM, Gorskii O, Pavlova N, Liang L, Ho J, Grigsby E, Gerszten PC, Karal-Ogly D, Bulgin D, Orlov S. Neural population dynamics reveals disruption of spinal circuits’ responses to proprioceptive input during electrical stimulation of sensory afferents. Cell reports. 2024 Feb 27;43(2).
- Valle G, Katic Secerovic N, Eggemann D, Gorskii O, Pavlova N, Petrini FM, Cvancara P, Stieglitz T, Musienko P, Bumbasirevic M, Raspopovic S. Biomimetic computer-to-brain communication enhancing naturalistic touch sensations via peripheral nerve stimulation. Nature Communications. 2024 Feb 20;15(1):1151.
- Borda L, Gozzi N, Preatoni G, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Automated calibration of somatosensory stimulation using reinforcement learning. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 2023 Sep 26;20(1):131.
- Aiello G, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Recalibration of neuromodulation parameters in neural implants with adaptive Bayesian optimization. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2023 Apr 1;20(2):026037.
- Cimolato A, Ciotti F, Kljajić J, Valle G, Raspopovic S. Symbiotic electroneural and musculoskeletal framework to encode proprioception via neurostimulation: ProprioStim. Iscience. 2023 Mar 17;26(3).
- Katic N, Siqueira RK, Cleland L, Strzalkowski N, Bent L, Raspopovic S, Saal H. Modeling foot sole cutaneous afferents: FootSim. Iscience. 2023 Jan 20;26(1).
- Chee L, Valle G, Preatoni G, Basla C, Marazzi M, Raspopovic S. Cognitive benefits of using non-invasive compared to implantable neural feedback. Scientific Reports. 2022 Oct 6;12(1):16696.
- Chee L, Valle G, Marazzi M, Preatoni G, Haufe FL, Xiloyannis M, Riener R, Raspopovic S. Optimally-calibrated non-invasive feedback improves amputees’ metabolic consumption, balance and walking confidence. Journal of neural engineering. 2022 Aug 1;19(4):046049.
- Basla C, Chee L, Valle G, Raspopovic S. A non-invasive wearable sensory leg neuroprosthesis: mechanical, electrical and functional validation. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2022 Feb 1;19(1):016008.
- Raspopovic S. Neurorobotics for neurorehabilitation. Science. 2021 Aug 6;373(6555):634-5.
- Raspopovic S, Valle G, Petrini FM. Sensory feedback for limb prostheses in amputees. Nature Materials. 2021 Jul;20(7):925-39.
- Valle G, Saliji A, Fogle E, Cimolato A, Petrini FM, Raspopovic S. Mechanisms of neuro-robotic prosthesis operation in leg amputees. Science Advances. 2021 Apr 21;7(17):eabd8354.
- Petrini FM, Valle G, Bumbasirevic M, Barberi F, Bortolotti D, Cvancara P, Hiairrassary A, Mijovic P, Sverrisson AÖ, Pedrocchi A, Divoux JL. Enhancing functional abilities and cognitive integration of the lower limb prosthesis. Science translational medicine. 2019 Oct 2;11(512):eaav8939.
- Petrini FM, Bumbasirevic M, Valle G, Ilic V, Mijović P, Čvančara P, Barberi F, Katic N, Bortolotti D, Andreu D, Lechler K. Sensory feedback restoration in leg amputees improves walking speed, metabolic cost and phantom pain. Nature medicine. 2019 Sep;25(9):1356-63.