Massachusetts General Hospital

Instructor in Anesthesia, Harvard Medical SchoolResearch Areas

• Computational modeling and statistical signal processing algorithms for biomedical applications
• Intracortical neural prosthetics (brain-machine interfaces) for individuals with tetraplegia
• Neuronal dynamics of sensorimotor learning and motor representation
• Denoising and neuronal spike extraction techniques for two-photon calcium imaging of the brain
• Ultrawideband (UWB) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems

Description of ResearchMy research focuses on the development of signal processing techniques for biomedical engineering systems, particularly with neuroscience and neuroengineering applications. I lead the computational algorithms team at the multi-institutional BrainGatepilot clinical trial, which is investigating the feasibility of neural interfaces for motor function restoration in people with paralysis. My interest in the BrainGate project is in developing adaptive filtering approaches for multi-signal neural decoding to achieve neuroprosthetic control.  Another of our projects aims to develop point-process methods for identifying neuronal spikes fromfast two-photon imaging data, enabling neuronal ensemblesignal analysis forin vivo brain tissue. We also focus on time-series analysis and machine learning techniques for healthcare analytics. Finally, I design wireless communications technology for a range of healthcare applications including chronically implantable stimulation and recording systems, telemedicine, 24-hour patient monitoring, and wireless body area networks.

Selected Publications

• I. Cajigas, W. Q. Malik, and E. N. Brown, “nSTAT: Open-source neural spike train analysis toolbox for Matlab,”J. Neurosci. Meth.,ePub Sep. 2012, doi 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.08.009 (in press)
• B. Jarosiewicz, J. Schummers, W. Q. Malik, E. N. Brown, and M. Sur, “Functional biases in visual cortex neurons with identified projections to higher cortical targets,”Curr. Biol., 22(4), 269-277, Feb. 2012  
• W. Q. Malik, J. Schummers, M. Sur, and E. N. Brown, “Denoising two-photon calcium imaging data,”PLoS ONE, 6(6), e20490, Jun. 2011  
• W. Q. Malik, W. Truccolo, E. N. Brown, and L. R. Hochberg, “Efficient decoding with steady-state Kalman filter in neural interface systems,”IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng., 19(1), 25-34, Feb. 2011
• W. Q. Malik and D. J. Edwards, “Measured MIMO capacity and diversity gain with spatial and polar arrays in ultrawideband channels,”IEEE Trans. Commun., 55(12), 2361-2370, Dec. 2007  
• J. E. Arle, J. L. Shils, and W. Q. Malik, “Localized stimulation and recording in the spinal cord with microelectrode arrays,” in Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf. (EMBC). San Diego, CA, Aug. 2012
• W. Q. Malik, I. Cajigas, and L. R. Hochberg, "Colored noise Kalman filter for neural decoding" in Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Conf. (EMBC). San Diego, CA, Aug. 2012

Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine

Phone: 617-726-3030

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