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West Virginia University will play a pivotal role in a $20 million, National Science Foundation-funded project that will strengthen neuroscience research, the workforce and infrastructure in the state. (WVU Illustration/Michelle McGettigan)

West Virginia University will help elevate neuroscience throughout the Mountain State by ramping up academic scientific research, making strategic faculty and staff hires, and adding state-of-the-art infrastructure to address the fields most perplexing challenges.

The National Science Foundation-funded project will also benefit students by providing them with opportunities in neuroscience and data research and will contribute overall to the science education of K-12 schools in West Virginia.

Randy Nelson, chair and professor of the WVU Department of Neuroscience, part of the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, is leading the Universitys efforts for the proposed West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics, a collaboration of neuroscientists and bioinformaticists working to position the state as an epicenter for neuroscience research. Joining Nelson on the project are WVU researchers Eric Horstick, of the Department of Biology; Aric Agmon, Morgan Bridi, Michelle Bridi, Martin Hruska, Charles Anderson, all of Neuroscience; and Michael Hu, of Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology.

The WV-NFNT will aim to expand and diversify the neuroscience and data science workforce in the state through implementing education and development activities for students, especially those who are rural, first-generation college students, and from other underrepresented groups.

A significant portion of the research component of this project will be conducted by an undergraduate workforce, Nelson said. Immersive teaching of K-12 educators, formalized training and mentorship of undergraduates in both neuroscience and data science research, coupled with access to internships, will contribute to the goal of placing West Virginians in competitive post-graduate programs or employment in STEM industries. Broadening participation will be supported at the K-12 level through the equity focus of CodeWV and other programs such as summer brain and data sciences camps.

CodeWV, housed at WVU, helps bring computer science to every K-12 student in West Virginia schools. WV-NFNT will partner with CodeWV to expand offerings by working with research faculty to identify the content and skills students need for data science and bioinformatics fields. The focus will be data literacy in early grades, and data science introduction in advanced courses.

Among the top research goals, according to Nelson, is studying synaptic and circuit plasticity, which involve changes in neurons and the connections between them as the result of developmental or environmental changes. This work will provide the foundational knowledge of how the brain typically develops and ages; thus, subsequent research could provide insights into brain function that is atypical, such as in autism, Alzheimers disease or schizophrenia.

The underlying flexibility in neuronal structure and function to cope with changing environments, broadly known as neuronal plasticity, is the basis for how organisms can adapt and survive when confronted by change, Nelson explained.

Under different conditions, developmental stages, stimuli or environmental exposure, brain plasticity can be influenced, he said. Neural plasticity can be achieved through adding or removing nerve cells (neurons) or by remodeling existing neurons at different spatial, molecular or physiological scales.

For example, connections between neurons might be strengthened during memory formation or neurons might be recruited or deleted from a circuit that helps process sounds.

Despite the importance of plasticity, the mechanisms underlying how these changes are made in the brain remain unspecified. Nelson said the grant will provide the tools and personnel to examine these changes at a microstructural and single-cell genetic level.

The project was awarded a highly competitive, five-year $20 million grant from the NSFs Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which is facilitated by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commissions Division of Science, Technology & Research. WVU will receive $9.3 million as part of the project, which includes Marshall University, West Virginia State University, Shepherd University and WVHEPC heading up the initiative.

WVU, in collaboration with its colleagues, Nelson said, will play a central role in developing and deploying new technologies such as stimulated emission depletion microscopy and single-cell or spatial transcriptomics gene transcription to understand the plasticity of synapses, glia, neurons and circuits in animal models.

A new STED microscope will be placed in the Biology Department to examine ultrastructural changes in the brain. New equipment will also be obtained for conducting spatial transcriptomics analyses. Spatial transcriptomics is a relatively new molecular profiling method that allows neuroscientists to assess all the gene activity in a tissue sample and map where the activity is occurring. WVU also operates Imaging and Genomics Core facilities, which will expand under the initiative.

WV-NFNT hopes to capitalize from the strength of the WVU Center for Foundational Neuroscience Research and Education and the RNI. The WVU Neuroscience Department launched in 2018, and the neuroscience program, includes more than 100 undergraduate majors, 20-plus doctoral students and a new masters program beginning later this year.

University leaders said they believe the project helps bolster the Universitys standing as an R1 institution and strengthen its collaborative efforts, not just across campus but beyond.

One of the most important ways we can change the trajectory of our state is to fund initiatives that educate our future workforce and provide hands-on training and research opportunities, said Dr. Clay B. Marsh, WVU Health Sciences chancellor and executive dean. The collaborative nature of this project not only raises the profile of WVU but also that of our partner institutions, and we are grateful to the National Science Foundation and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission for recognizing the importance of education and scientific research in the field of neuroscience.

Its great to see the continued growth in fundamental neuroscience at WVU, said Sheena Murphy, associate vice president for research development at the WVU Research Office. This is a cross-disciplinary effort engaging researchers from both Health Sciences and the Eberly College. Its also exciting to see that there are so many assistant professors who are key to this collaboration.

-WVU-

js/05/08/23

MEDIA CONTACT: Jake StumpDirectorWVU Research Communications304-293-5507; jake.stump@mail.wvu.edu

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WVU Today | WVU tapped to transform neuroscience research in the ... - WVU Today

Under the proposed European Data Act, researchers access to big data would be more restricted than that of consumers and businesses.Credit: Jorg Greuel/Getty

The amount of information humans and their machines are generating is growing exponentially. Its expected that the amount of data created, captured and replicated across the world annually will have increased from 33 zettabytes (or 33 trillion gigabytes) in 2018 to 221 zettabytes by 2026.

There is huge potential for this information to drive innovation and economic growth, but most of it is going to waste, say European Union legislators, because companies keep it closely guarded and it ends up largely unused. The European Data Act, proposed in 2022, seeks to free up some of this data, giving consumers, businesses and public-sector bodies access rights.

Researchers, however, say that the proposed act fails to extend such rights to them, and is a missed opportunity to accelerate innovation in key areas, such as climate change, public health and the countering of misinformation. Some see it as the latest example of publicly funded researchers being left behind in the race to make the most of big data.

There is a wall between researchers and a lot of data that they could use to carry out important research in the public interest, either because companies prevent them from accessing it, or they charge very high prices for it, says Julien Chicot, a senior policy officer at the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities in Brussels, a network of 21 research-led institutions. The proposed Data Act is disappointing because it enables data sharing between businesses, but largely fails to do so for research purposes, he says.

In 2020, the European Commission published a data strategy to increase the flow of data across sectors in member states. The aims included creating wealth, giving people greater control over their data and fostering trust for companies. The proposed Data Act is a key part of that strategy. The commissions proposals apply to devices and machines that gather data related to their performance, use and environment, and that can communicate the data through the Internet or by other means. This includes connected objects that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT), such as smart home appliances, connected vehicles and smart manufacturing systems. Products such as smart phones, cameras and personal computers are outside the scope of the proposals, as are value added insights derived through software processing.

The commission says it expects the proposals to create 270 billion (US$296 billion) of additional gross domestic product for EU member states by 2028 by unlocking currently underused data. The act could, for example, allow a farmer to access data generated by their machines that they could then pass on to third-party companies for analysis. This might find efficiencies or allow repairs to be made at rates that are lower than the premium charged by the manufacturers.

Some observers say that the EUs focus on creating legislative frameworks around digital activities doesnt take into account the importance of publicly funded research in driving innovation. The political push behind the data strategy is specifically aimed at industry data and business-driven innovation, says Viivi Lhteenoja, chair of MyData Global, a personal-data campaign group in Helsinki. The researchers agenda, and research-driven innovation, hasnt been high up on the list.

Researchers scramble as Twitter plans to end free data access

The proposed Data Act states that public-sector bodies can request information from companies in exceptional need, including to respond to or prevent emergencies, such as those related to public health, environmental degradation or natural disasters. The laws would also give these bodies access to commercial data if it was needed to fulfil tasks in the public interest that they are legally obliged to carry out, and for which they could not obtain the necessary data in other ways. Small companies would be exempt from the requirements.

Legal specialists and organizations representing researchers say that the Data Act will be of limited use to academics because their institutions would not fall under its definition of public-sector bodies, so they could not request information from companies directly. Researchers usually find a research concept and methodology, and then look for data that helps them study their subject, says Heiko Richter, who studies information and data regulation at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, Germany. Under the act, they would have to see what they could do with data provided to them by public-sector bodies, and could only use it for the purposes for which it was originally intended. So, I dont think the act, as it stands, does much to help researchers.

Chicot agrees. The proposed Data Act text suggests public bodies, such as health authorities, would have to ask companies for data and could then share the data with researchers, he says. Universities and other public research-performing organizations must be able to request access to data directly from data holders.

The Data Act introduces new ways for public-sector bodies to access and use data held by private companies when it is necessary for specific public-interest purposes, said Johannes Bahrke, a spokesperson for the commission. Public-sector bodies can use the expertise of public-research institutes to analyse this data.

The commission says that people in member states will benefit from the greater accessibility of data that the strategy allows, through innovations leading to improved health care, better transport systems, greater energy efficiency, new products and cheaper public services. Some researchers say that these aims can be achieved only if the act is amended to allow them to request data from companies directly and in a wider set of circumstances.

Europe pumps 10 million into effort to combat brain drain

We are facing some major global challenges, such as the energy transition, loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation, says Morten Dhlen, director of the Centre for Computational and Data Science at the University of Oslo. I understand some data must remain confidential for reasons of commercial interests and personal privacy, however, researchers need access to more data from companies than the Data Act allows to speed up the green transition.

Danijel Skoaj, a computer scientist at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, says that access to more data from manufacturing businesses could accelerate his efforts to use deep learning to improve defect detection in production processes. We really struggle to get good, realistic data sets to evaluate our algorithms, says Skoaj. The Data Act seems to be mostly about business-to-business data sharing, but if it focused more on data sharing for research, it could benefit everyone.

Both the European Parliament and the European Council, which represents member states, have suggested amendments to the proposed act. Representatives of these bodies and the commission have begun discussions aimed at reaching a common position that could be adopted as legislation next year.

Dhlen says that the lack of emphasis on the importance of research in the Data Act was mirrored in early proposals of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which seeks to classify and regulate AI systems by their risk profile. The proposed AI Act, published by the commission in 2021, has been revised during negotiations and is currently the subject of discussions in the European Parliament. The current form is better, but the early version of the AI Act could be interpreted as saying you cant do research on certain AI topics, says Dhlen. It was again leaving research behind and showed a lack of understanding of its importance in society.

Researchers concerns about the Data Act follow other examples of publicly funded science being left behind while the private sector capitalizes on big data. One preprint study1 found that more AI researchers are moving from universities to technology companies than the other way around. And those that made the jump to the commercial sector had more than three times the citations per paper than those who stayed behind. The announcement by Twitter of plans to end researchers free access to the services application programming interface, which enables the extraction and processing of large amounts of data from the platform, is expected to hit those using it for research at universities the hardest because they lack the funds to pay for access.

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Proposed EU data laws leave researchers out in the cold - Nature.com

Aziz Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chairman of CodersTrust and CEO of UTC Associates, Inc. presenting at United Nations. Photo provided.

NEW YORK- We need to embrace all technology advancements with a clear understanding on digital good and digital bad and address the digital divide by reducing gaps in the society at large, said Aziz Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chairman CodersTrust and CEO of UTC Associates, Inc. at a recent technology seminar held at the United Nations in New York City.

Aziz Ahmad is a globally renowned technology innovator, entrepreneur, and speaker. He recently presented at a seminar on Data Collection and Distribution Process as Enablers for the Exercise of Human Rights held at United Nations Headquarters in New York organized by the United Nations University for Peace as a side event in observance of World Press Freedom Day 2023.

Peace and prosperity can be ensured by enhancing the technology skills among the youths so that they can become the resources instead of becoming the burden of the society, Ahmad underscored.

The Bangladeshi-American technology investor joined the discussion with Jayashri Wyatt, Chief of the Education Outreach Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications, United Nations, Amy Larsen, Director, Strategy and Management at Democracy Forward, Microsoft, Dr. Chris Wiggins, Chief Data Scientist, New York Times and Professor at the Data Science Institute, Columbia University and Dr. Mona Sloane, Senior Research Scientist & Associate Professor, NYU Center for Responsible AI as the panelists.

Renowned UN diplomat and communication expert Ramu Damodaran moderated the seminar while Juan Carlos Sainz Borgo, Vice President of University for Peace, was in the chair.

The speakers emphasized their concern about the spread of hate speech and privacy violations in the name of technology advancement.

I think we should embrace the technology innovation over innovation but need to ensure a balance in terms of freedom of speech and access to information and see how we can come up with the policy to address the bad elements and bad actors like hackers, even the country sponsored hackers, in the arena of digital technology, said Ahmad.

In the wake of severe underemployment, unemployment across the Globe, Ahmad founded CodersTrust to provide relevant skill sets among youth so that they can earn a living from the global market from anywhere they live, he informed the seminar.

The seminar lauded Ahmad for the incredible work of his organization, CodersTrust.

Ahmad shared his experience as a Lead Architect of AT&T once for its 21st Century Network and said some of those technologies still remain while some are now gone. His discussion touched on important points such as the fact that 45 percent of todays workforces needs to be re-skilled and up-skilled to stay relevant.

Discussion also centered around how artificial intelligence and automation are diversifying quickly. Billions of people still do not have the access to these technologies, and they are not generating any data, which creates the need to develop innovative approaches to embracing digital good and avoiding digital bad.

Ahmad also expressed his desire to regulate hate speech and propaganda, acknowledging the important balance between freedom of speech and keeping digital good in consideration.

A very loose framework can be initiated where we can balance our innovations with ethics and compliance bringing rich and poor, men and women and different genders, our conscious, sub-conscious thoughts to mitigate the challenges of uncertain future, said Ahmad.

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Enhanced technology skills can ensure peace, says Aziz Ahmad - Mid Hudson News Website

Dubai-UAE: UOW has unveiled plans for a new research centre, called the Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre in Dubai. It will act as a beacon of excellence and global collaboration in data science research while promoting the Universitys, NSWs and Australias as well as UAEs capabilities in higher education, science and technology.

The centre will operate from the Australian Expo Pavilion building in Dubai, which was gifted to University of Wollongong (UOW) by the Australian government in 2022, to leverage the space for innovation, quality research and global collaboration.

The launch of the centre was marked in an event that addressed high-level delegation from the Australian (New South Wales) and UAE governments as well as leadership from University of Wollongong and University of Wollongong Dubai campuses including His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, United Arab Emirates; Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales Australia as well as UOWD President Professor Mohamed Salem and UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson.

The concept of the innovation centre headlined by the University of Wollongong sits at the centre of the UAE Ministry of Educations National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, that places utmost priority on education in an endeavour to enhance the countrys global competitiveness and economic position.

In addition, the Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre aligns with the UAEs vision for innovation by convening researchers, academics, and industry partners to create groundbreaking solutions to complex problems. In parallel, it amplifies UOWDs responsibility and commitment towards sustainability by focusing on data science research that promotes sustainable solutions and driving a knowledge-based economy driven by international partnerships and collaboration.

The centre will contribute significantly towards employment opportunities in the region through real-world projects and internships, particularly for Emiratis and in fields of healthcare, big data, big analytics, supply chains, and cybersecurity.

By attracting international collaborations and research projects, the Centre will open doors for local talent to gain valuable experience and develop their skills in a global context. This, in turn, will help create a skilled workforce capable of driving the UAE's knowledge-based economy and supporting its long-term strategic goals.

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Patricia M. Davidson said she was proud of the University of Wollongong leading the way in research and innovation both in Australia and globally.

Australias Expo Pavilion was called Blue Sky Dreaming, taking inspiration from the cumulus cloud, a feature of the diverse Australian landscape. Similarly, our new Data Science Discovery and Innovation Centre will provide a space for multiple ideas and visions, unified by their pursuit of innovation and discovery.

The field of data science has the potential to revolutionise many industries and improve our lives in countless ways, whether in healthcare, supply chains or cybersecurity. And the best research is delivered collaboratively and collegially, which is one of the main goals of this facility, Professor Davidson said.

UOWs Dubai campus opened in 1993 and is one of the regions premier teaching and research institutions. It is the only NSW-based university in the United Arab Emirates and the broader Middle East and North Africa region, leveraging over 11,000 alumni and deep relationships and networks.

UOW Dubai (UOWD) has been offering world-class programs in a variety of disciplines, including business, engineering, information sciences and health sciences. In recent years, it has launched programs in Computer Science (Big Data), Mechatronic Engineering and Business Analytics, which are proving increasingly popular among students. The association with a research centre specialising in this discipline area will attract more students and enrich their educational experience, creating opportunities for truly global collaborations and job prospects.

This facility and its capabilities are unique within the region. Solutions created through enquiry into data in many fields are of vital interest to governments and industries in the region and Australia. We look forward to working with other NSW-based universities to facilitate collaborative opportunities as part of this initiative, UOWD President Professor Mohamed Salem said.

With the Dubai campus celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, UOW has continued to establish itself as a respected hub for research and innovation collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa region. The University of Wollongong Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre will further cement UOWs and Australias presence in the area, providing opportunities for students, researchers and industry to make a positive impact.

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UOW launches the University of Wollongong Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre - ZAWYA