Advanced Platform Technology Center
Allison Hess-Dunning, PhD
Research interests
Neural Interfaces, Microfabrication and Microdevices, Polymer-based biosensors, Novel substrate, electrode, and sensing materials for implantable microdevices.
Allison Hess-Dunning is a Research Investigator with the APT Center and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and holds Adjunct Assistant Professor positions at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering and in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Pittsburgh, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Since joining the VA in 2011, Dr. Hess-Dunning has received a Career Development Award I, a Career Development Award II, and has served as PI or Co-PI on two Merit Reviews from the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service.
Dr. Hess-Dunning’s research interests center around developing multi-functional, locally-responsive neural probes for monitoring and improving brain activity and health through electrophysiology, electrochemical sensing, and drug delivery. Micro- and nano-fabrication processes are developed to integrate novel or unconventional materials, such as a mechanically-switchable polymer nanocomposite and graphene-based electrodes, to maximize biocompatibility and device viability.
 Curriculum Vitae |
 Published Work |
Photo: From the Dynamic Intracortical Probes project. (Top) Four-contact NC probe for neural recording. The large rectangular contact pads are on the right, and the electrode contacts are near the tip of the narrow shank. (Middle) Platinum microelectrodes for neural recording and electrochemical sensing. (Bottom) NC Probe with microfluidic channel running down the center for drug delivery applications. Hess-Dunning is a Principal Investigator on the project.
