A signal processing approach to biomarkers: Dynamical biomarkers and recent advances in swallowing, gait, handwriting and preference detection research

Abstract:

A biomarker is defined as a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. In recent years, there has been growing emphasis on the utility of molecular biomarkers, usually to identify molecules whose detection indicates a particular disease state. Although, molecular biomarkers are useful under certain conditions, complementary approaches to probe other characteristics of a living system may provide crucial information when molecular biomarkers are difficult to identify. In this talk, I will present my efforts to develop dynamical biomarkers that can characterize temporal and spatial signatures (i.e., the unique patterns of moment-to-moment changes of physiologic variables under normal or pathologic conditions) and their relationship to other variables. Specifically, I will elaborate my research endeavours to develop a dynamical biomarker indicative of swallowing difficulties. I will also outline my work in multidisciplinary investigations of gait, handwriting processes and preference detection along with a description of my contributions to signal processing.