A Conversation on the Frontiers of Neurodegenerative Disease

A Conversation on the Frontiers of Neurodegenerative Disease is happening virtually on Tuesday, October 20, and it's one of those talks that hits close to home if you've ever had a family member deal with a long-term illness. The conversation brings together three Tartans—Douglas Weber, David Betts, and Anne Mundell—to talk about what it's actually like to live with ALS.

That's the starting point, but the talk goes a lot further than just the personal side of things. They'll be looking at the emerging technologies being developed to help people with neurodegenerative diseases communicate, move, and keep their independence. The whole idea is how assistive technologies and personalized medical devices could change the day-to-day for people living with these conditions—the kind of tools that might let someone keep talking or moving when their body is working against them.

What makes this more than just a tech demo, though, is that they aren't ignoring the messy parts. Along with the possibilities, they'll be talking through the questions, the uncertainties, and the frustrations that come up when families and researchers are searching for better solutions. It's as much about the human struggle as it is about the engineering.

Since it's virtual, you can tune in from wherever you are in the city without having to worry about parking or a commute. Admission is free, so there's no barrier to entry if you're interested in how this tech is actually being applied to real lives. It's presented by Douglas Weber, David Betts, and Anne Mundell on Tuesday, October 20.