Moritz to give Science in Medicine Lecture on neurotechnology and recovery

The University of Washington School of Medicine's Science in Medicine Lecture Series will feature Chet Moritz, PhD, the CJ and Elizabeth Hwang endowed professor in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Neurobiology & Biophysics, on Thursday, February 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The lecture, titled “Neurotechnology to Promote Long-Term Recovery After Brain and Spinal Cord Injury,” will take place in the Foege South Auditorium and will also be available via Zoom webinar.

Since 1976, the Science in Medicine Lecture Series has recognized faculty research achievements at the UW School of Medicine and provided an opportunity to explore discoveries across different fields of science.

Moritz, who also serves as co-director of the Center for Neurotechnology, studies ways to restore movement and function for people with spinal cord injuries, stroke, and cerebral palsy. His work focuses on neuroprosthetic devices—technology that interacts with the nervous system to improve mobility and quality of life.

In his lecture, Moritz will discuss innovative approaches to restoring movement after brain and spinal cord injuries. His research explores methods such as functional electrical stimulation (FES), spinal cord stimulation, and brain-computer interfaces, which can help reconnect neural pathways and promote long-term recovery. His team is also investigating optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control nerve activity, as a way to encourage healing.

Moritz received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado and the University of Washington. His research has helped advance neural devices that improve quality of life after brain and spinal cord injury. 

RSVP: Science in Medicine Lecture Series: Chet Moritz, PhD – Research & Graduate Education