Dr. Omar Ahmed

Biography

Omar Ahmed is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology with a focus on biomedical engineering and neuropsychiatry. His research primarily investigates the repair of neuropsychiatric circuits, utilizing transgenic rodent models to study how normal neural circuits are disrupted in conditions such as epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. The Ahmed lab engineers all-optical autonomous closed-loop therapies aimed at targeting specific subsets of malfunctioning neurons. Key methodologies employed include large-scale electrophysiology in both rodent and human models, alongside advanced imaging techniques like two-photon laser-scanning, which enables real-time alterations in neuronal activity as subjects navigate custom-designed virtual reality environments. Significant projects in his lab focus on understanding the small subsets of neurons that control seizures, analyzing large electrophysiology datasets for behavioral correlates of brain rhythms, developing these custom virtual reality environments, and engineering innovative lumigenetic tools for non-invasive neuronal control. His work contributes to enhancing our understanding of brain function and developing therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Research Interests