Health Relevance

Why do we need the Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) program? What is SPARC doing to improve health? This video provides an overview of the significant health relevance of SPARC.

Tools & Technology Videos

These SPARC Plug videos feature some of the tools and technologies being developed and used by SPARC researchers to accelerate development of therapeutic devices that modulate electrical activity in nerves to improve organ function. You can find more SPARC videos on the SPARC YouTube channel.

Infrared and Ultrasound (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 1)

Learn how noninvasive pulses of light or sound waves can be used to alter peripheral nerve activity.

Biosensor (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 2)

Learn about biosensors—cutting-edge tools that are being developed and used to detect and monitor nerve activity and organ function.

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 3)

Learn how electrical currents can be used to create 3-D images of nerves in action!

Electrodes (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 4)

Learn about specialized electrodes that can detect, monitor, and modulate peripheral nerve activity.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 5)

Learn how researchers can bounce light waves off of nerves to build 2-D and 3-D images of nerve structures!

Optogenetics and Magnetogenetics (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 6)

Learn how researchers are using light and magnetism to turn specific nerve cells on and off.

Fecobionics (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 7)

Learn about the Fecobionics biosensor that is being developed to help improve therapies for gastrointestinal disorders by providing a reproducible way to assess health and intestinal function.

Urological MOnitor of Conscious Activity (UroMOCA) (SPARC Plug: Tools & Tech 8)

Learn about the Urological MOnitor of Conscious Activity (UroMOCA) biosensor that is being developed to help improve therapies for bladder dysfunction by providing a reproducible way to assess health and bladder function.