Dr Anirban Dutta

Dr Anirban Dutta

Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research
Associate Professor of Quantitative Biomedicine

Contact details

Address
Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Dutta is a biomedical engineer with an entrepreneurial background and a global career. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering from Jadavpur University, India, followed by an M.S. at the University of Florida and a Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University, USA. In addition, he obtained an M.S. at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin Stroke Research Centre, Germany.

Dr Dutta's career spans various academic and research roles globally, including positions at Tata Consultancy Services, Janelia Farm Research Campus (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He continued his academic journey with roles such as Humboldt research fellow at the University Medicine Göttingen, starting research scientist at INRIA, France, and Assistant/Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo, USA. He also held academic positions at the University of Lincoln and currently at the University of Birmingham.

His research output includes peer-reviewed journal publications with more than 2300 citations, and he holds certifications in ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 14971:2019 for Medical Devices. Dr. Dutta has secured substantial research funding, exemplified by projects such as the co-production of a VR biofeedback training platform (PI: £49,357.68, Rehab Tech Network+), PTSD treatment in a digital world (co-I: £32,667, N-CODE), and Brain-based Metrics for Prolonged Field Care Tasks (co-PI: $3.1 million, U.S. Army). Previous support includes U.S. Army Medical Research funds (co-PI: $2,215,000), and a $100,000 USA-PI grant from the Government of India. These grants underline Dutta's expertise in biomedical engineering, neuroimaging, and neurorehabilitation, showcasing a versatile funding profile across international collaborations and interdisciplinary research domains (ORCID).

Qualifications

Associate Professor of Quantitative Biomedicine

  • M.S. in Cerebrovascular Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin Stroke Research Centre, Germany in 2014
    • Thesis: Electroencephalography (EEG)-near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based online imaging during non-invasive electrical brain stimulation
  • Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, USA in 2009
    • Thesis: Development of an Electromyogram-Based Controller for Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Walking After Partial Paralysis (http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1238761874)
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, in 2002
  • Bachelor of Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, in 1999

Biography

CGHE Brown Bag Seminar: Dr Anirban Dutta

The UK health system is grappling with challenges posed by a growing and aging population, putting strain on the NHS. Adapting to this demographic shift is crucial for timely disease diagnosis and prevention. The goal of my research is to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning to personalize healthcare through human-in-the-loop neurotechnologies. Here, physiological knowledge is essential for refining 'black box' AI algorithms, providing insight into biological processes and ensuring accurate modelling, while collaboration with clinicians, physiologists, Personal and Public Involvement is necessary for ethical delivery with established standards for end-users.

Dr Dutta's research focuses on global health equity with affordable neurotechnologies, combining physiological modelling and low-cost hardware development. Using portable non-invasive electrical stimulation and neuroimaging, he aims to address global healthcare disparities, blending neurotechnology development with social responsibility. His postdoctoral research under Humboldt fellowship at the University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany, laid the foundation to a multi-level (neuromuscular-spinal cord-brain) neurostimulation approach to post-stroke neurorehabilitation. His Humboldt fellowship research project extended applications to India, addressing healthcare challenges in resource-limited settings. Then, his leadership in the NeuroPhys4NeuroRehab project at the INRIA, France (CEREBROS: https://team.inria.fr/nphys4nrehab/cerebros/) resulted in an U.S. spinoff, NeuroTrix LLC. Dr. Dutta's social entrepreneurship includes Arogya MedTech Pvt. Ltd. winning the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge as well as being the 2015 semi-finalist at the 43North, Buffalo, for the CEREBROS technology. Then, transitioning to the University at Buffalo, USA, in 2016 as a tenure-track Assistant Professor, his lab achieved milestones in translational research on neuroimaging and ‘grey-box’ modelling-guided non-invasive brain stimulation for post-stroke neurorehabilitation and developed a low-cost portable brain scanner with photobiomodulation functionality for neonatal neurocritical care in India. Dr. Dutta's entrepreneurial ventures include NSF's Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) guided SIAGNOS LLC – currently exploring need-based clinical applications globally of our affordable portable brain imaging and point-of-care neurotechnologies.

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Dutta is looking for graduate students who want to leverage AI and machine-learning to personalize healthcare using need-based application of point-of-care neurotechnologies. Dr Dutta managed and supervised a diverse team of students and researchers at the University at Buffalo and INRIA, Montpellier, France, across various neuroscientific projects. His experience showcases a track record in leading and mentoring individuals in diverse neuroscientific research areas, fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment.

University of Buffalo

  • Co-supervised Anil Kamat, a Ph.D. student (with Prof. Suvranu De), focusing on brain behavior monitoring during laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition since February 2021.
  • Co-supervised Fei Zhao, a Ph.D. student (with Prof. Machiko Tomita), focusing on alterations in cerebral and muscle oxygenation response following a two-month exercise regimen in sedentary older adults diagnosed with diabetes from 2018 to 2022.
  • Supervised Zeynab Rezaee, a Ph.D. student, exploring neuroimaging-guided subject-specific non-invasive cerebellar stimulation from 2017 to 2020.
  • Supervised Pushpinder Walia, an M.S. student, from 2020 to 2022, exploring neuroimaging-guided subject-specific non-invasive brain stimulation for surgical training.
  • Guided Dr. Neeta Ashok Kumar, a post-doctoral fellow, in the development of Artificially Intelligent Agents for Investigating Methods for Performance Overdrive (IMPROVE) in 2021.
  • Supervised Zoe Herrick on her M.S. thesis from 2018 to 2020, focusing on source localization of simulated electroencephalogram of Virtual Epileptic Patients using The Virtual Brain.
  • Supervised Brian Hagan, an M.S. student, on analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) in an ovine model of perinatal hypoxia using the autoregressive model parameters for classification from 2017 to 2018.
  • Supervised various other M.S. students on diverse topics such as computational modeling, system analysis, and feasibility studies related to neurostimulation and brain function.

INRIA, Montpellier, France

Co-mentored Dr Jija James, a post-doctoral fellow, on the Modelling of resting-state functional connectivity networks in preoperative and postoperative Diffuse Low Grade Glioma (DLGG) from 2014 to 2015.

Engaged and guided interns and doctoral candidates for the NeuroPhys4NeuroRehab project (https://team.inria.fr/nphys4nrehab/) in the development of neurophysiological test setups for customizing and monitoring patient-specific non-invasive electrical stimulation-facilitated neurorehabilitation. This included Deepesh Kumar, Águida Foerster, Utkarsh Jindal, Mehak Sood, Gorish Aggarwal, and Rishabh Sehgal, contributing from 2013 to 2015

Research

In our research, individual functioning, and disability, encompassing "body functions and structures," "activities," and "participation," are viewed as outcomes of the interaction between the individual's "health condition" (comprising "disorder/disease") and contextual factors such as "personal factors" and "environmental factors" – the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) Model. ICF model-based rehabilitation needs a multi-disciplinary approach where our overarching goal is to shift the research paradigm towards need-based solution-oriented projects.

  • A platform technology for VR biofeedback training under operant conditioning. Rehab Tech Network, an EPSRC network+ funded research.
  • Assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in a digital world. N-CODE, an EPSRC network+ funded research.
  • MonitoRing the Effect of TRAnscutaneous electrIcal stimulation on cerebral haemodynamics and neuroplasticity (RETRAIN). Biomedical Catalyst funded research.
  • A ‘phase zero’ human brain organoid platform for neuroengineering optical theranostics. Collaboration with Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, and University at Buffalo, USA.
  • Brain-based metrics for prolonged field care tasks. Collaboration with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center and University at Buffalo, USA.

Research Groups and Centres

Other activities

Dr Dutta serves as Associate Editor for Neural Technology and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices at Frontiers in Neuroscience and Frontiers in Medical Technology, respectively. He is also a Review Editor for Clinical Neuroergonomics and has been an Editorial Board member for Brain Sciences Journal. His editorial contributions extend to guest editing special issues and serving as Guest Associate Editor for Stroke and Neural Technology in Frontiers in Neurology and Frontiers in Neuroscience.

As an ad-hoc reviewer, Dr. Dutta has contributed to various journals, conferences, and scientific reports, showcasing his expertise in neuroengineering and neurorehabilitation. In terms of professional service, he has taken on leadership roles as co-chair of theme sessions at international conferences, such as the 44th International Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC'22) in 2022. Additionally, he organized a webinar series on Translational Research in Neuroengineering and Neurorehabilitation in 2020, funded in part by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Dr Dutta's administrative service includes being the Programme Leader of BEng (Hons) Biomedical Engineering at the University of Lincoln from 2022 to 2024. He also served as a member of the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences Admissions Committee at the University at Buffalo in 2016-2017. These roles underline his commitment to academia and leadership in biomedical engineering and related fields.

Publications

F. Zhao, M. Tomita, A. Dutta. Operational Modal Analysis of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measure of 2-Month Exercise Intervention Effects in Sedentary Older Adults with Diabetes and Cognitive Impairment. Brain Sci. 2023 Jul 20;13(7):1099. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13071099.

P. Walia, Y. Fu, S.D. Schwaitzberg, X. Intes, S. De, A. Dutta, L. Cavuoto. Portable neuroimaging differentiates novices from those with experience for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) suturing with intracorporeal knot tying task. Surg Endosc. 2023 Jul;37(7):5576-5582. doi: 10.1007/s00464-022-09727-4.

D. Rane, D.P. Dash, A. Dutt, A. Dutta, A. Das, U. Lahiri. Distinctive visual tasks for characterizing mild cognitive impairment and dementia using oculomotor behavior. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Jul 20;15:1125651. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1125651.

P. Walia, Y. Fu, J. Norfleet, S.D. Schwaitzberg, X. Intes, S. De, L. Cavuoto, A. Dutta. Error-related brain state analysis using electroencephalography in conjunction with functional near-infrared spectroscopy during a complex surgical motor task. Brain Inform. 2022 Dec 9;9(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s40708-022-00179-z.

A. Kamat, B. Makled, J. Norfleet, S.D. Schwaitzberg, X. Intes, S. De, A. Dutta, Directed information flow during laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition dissociated skill level and medical simulation technology, NPJ Sci Learn. 2022 Aug 25;7(1):19. doi: 10.1038/s41539-022-00138-7.

S. Ranjan, Z. Rezaee, A. Dutta, U. Lahiri, Feasibility of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Facilitate Goal-Directed Weight Shifting in Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiplegics, IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2021;29:2203-2210. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2021.3122202. (* equal contribution).

Y. Arora, P. Walia, M. Hayashibe, M. Muthalib, S.R. Chowdhury, S. Perrey, A. Dutta, Grey-box modeling and hypothesis testing of functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based cerebrovascular reactivity to anodal high-definition tDCS in healthy humans, PLoS Comput Biol. 2021 Oct 6;17(10):e1009386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009386.

A. Nemani, A. Kamat, Y. Gao, M. Yucel, D. Gee, C. Cooper, S. Schwaitzberg, X. Intes, A. Dutta, S. De, Functional Brain Connectivity Related to Surgical Skill Dexterity in Physical and Virtual Simulation Environments, Neurophotonics. 2021 Jan;8(1):015008. doi: 10.1117/1.NPh.8.1.015008.

Z. Rezaee, S. Ranjan, D. Solanki, M. Bhattacharya, MVP Srivastava, U. Lahiri*, A. Dutta*, Feasibility of combining functional near-infrared spectroscopy with electroencephalography to identify chronic stroke responders to cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation-a computational modeling and portable neuroimaging methodological study, Cerebellum. 2021 Mar 6. doi: 10.1007/s12311-021-01249-4 (* equal contribution).

D. Solanki, Z. Rezaee, A. Dutta*, U. Lahiri*, Investigating the Feasibility of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to facilitate Post-Stroke Overground Gait Performance in Chronic Stroke: a partial least-squares regression approach, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2021; 18(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s12984-021-00817-3. (* equal contribution).

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