Dr Jason Potas

Fields of research: Neurosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Animal Physiology - Systems

Contact Details

Phone: 02 9385 0017
Email: j.potas@unsw.edu.au

Tabs

Main

Dr Jason Potas is a neuroscientist interested in somatosensory (touch, proprioception and pain) and motor systems. He received his PhD training at the University of Sydney, Australia, before undertaking post-doctoral studies in various areas relating to neural injury. Before returning to academia at the Australian National University, he worked in industry in Brazil, and currently holds a senior lecturer position (neuroanatomy) at the University of New South Wales. Dr Potas leads an independent research team seeking to understand how somatosensory information is transformed through the nervous system. His laboratory projects, combining neuroscience, neurotrauma, machine-learning and biomedical and chemical engineering, aim to restore, mimic and/or augment sensorimotor systems.

University role:

Adjunct Senior Lecturer

Grants:

2020-2022 NHMRC Ideas Grant (APP1187416): Moalem-Taylor G, Aplin F, Potas JR, & Fridman G. A novel approach for peripheral neuromodulation: Using ionic direct current to treat chronic pain

2020-2022 ARC Discovery Project (DP200100630): Birznieks I, Vickery R, Potas JR, Shivdasani M. The role of spike patterning in shaping human perception of tactile stimuli

2019 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. Finding the neuronal basis for early detection of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

2018 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. Recording electrical activity in the brain toward the development of bionic touch – Funding 2

2018 SPHERE UNSW Sydney: Potas JR, Moalem-Taylor G, Birznieks I, Vickery R, Shivdasani M, Lin C, Goldstein D. Understanding brainstem sensory coding in pursuit of early detection of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

2017 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. Recording electrical activity in the brain toward the development of bionic touch

2015 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. Decoding sensory signals in the spinal cord for designing a “bionic touch” neuroprosthesis

2014 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. The use of 670 nm light for treatment of neuropathic pain

2013 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. The use of 670 nm light treatment to promote recovery from spinal cord injury

2012 Bootes Foundation: Potas JR. Promoting nervous system regeneration with 3D nanofibre scaffolds

Keywords:

neurosciences

bionics

machine learning

sensory processing

somatosensory neuroscience

sensorimotor control

nanomedicine

Research

Research activities:

Augmented Sensorimotor Systems group

Research interests:

Our research focuses on sensory and motor systems in pursuit of a deeper understanding of basic sensorimotor neuroscience. Our translational neuroscience objectives include the augmentation of sensory and/or motor systems to overcome nervous system damage, as well as to contribute to the expanding domain of enhanced sensorimotor function and mind-machine convergence.

Our pre-clinical projects combine electrophysiology of the nervous system using high channel count multi-electrode arrays with neuroanatomy and a variety of data science techniques including machine learning. We study the peripheral nervous system, spinal cord, and brain under normal conditions as well as neurotrauma. Human psychophysics draws correlations between our pre-clinical models and human perception. We also develop unique computational tools for neural signal analysis.

We have a variety of projects underway which include pain and touch processing in the pursuit of basic and applied knowledge for the development of diagnostic devices, brain machine interfaces and neural prosthetics (sensory and motor bionics). We are also developing a novel nanotechnology for delivery of drugs and genes to precise targets of the spinal cord with the aim of restoring movement and autonomous control.

Current projects:

Sensory tactile coding: We combine neural recordings from the nervous system with human psychophysics to improve our understanding of sensory processing as well as the effects of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. This knowledge will help us develop diagnostic tools for evaluating nerve function as well as the development of sensory neural prostheses (see: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00156).

Ionic direct current stimulation: We are investigating a novel stimulation technique (iDC) for neuromodulation of pain pathways. This technique permits us to excite, and well as inhibit nerves carrying pain information but with minimal impact on other sensory pathways. This project will help us develop better tools for blocking drug-resistant pain with minimal side effects to other sensory systems such as touch and proprioception.

Nanomedicine: We collaborate with chemical engineers to develop new nanomedicine drug and gene delivery systems that permits us to precisely target specific regions of the spinal cord. With this technology we aim to modifying pain, spasticity, and deliver genes for our OptoSpine project.

OptoSpine is a new optical-based bionics system for overcoming paralysis. We collaborate with molecular physiologists and chemical engineers to precisely deliver genes to spinal cord motor neurons, so they become responsive to light, and biomedical engineers to develop an optical-based neural prosthesis. This project aims to restore function to paralysed patients using artificial intelligent control of their genetically modified light-sensitive motor neurons.

Signal analysis: We are developing new software analytical tools which permits the analysis of complex neuronal spike-waveform interactions for improving the analysis of evoked potentials. These tools permit us to analyse large and complex multi-channel data sets for improving our basic understand of neuronal coding.

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Nervous System and Disorders

Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences

Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences

Teaching & Supervision

I am available to supervise:

Yes

Areas of supervision:

Somatosensory neuroscience

Pain

Sensorimotor systems

Bionic touch

Spinal cord injury

Peripheral nerve injury

Red light therapy

Machine learning

Nanomedicine

Brain-machine interface

Currently supervising:

Alastair Loutit (PhD student)

Publications related to this Person

Book Chapters

Potas JR, 2005, 'An improved protocol for SAGE tag-to-gene allocation', in Wang SM (ed.), SAGE: Current Technologies and Applications, Horizon Bioscience

Potas J; Dirnagl U; Priller J, 2005, 'Molecular and cellular changes in stroke: an emphasis on glial and inflammatory mechanisms', in Focus on Stroke Research, Nova Publishers, pp. 27 - 27

Journal articles

Loutit AJ; Potas JR, 2020, 'Restoring Somatosensation: Advantages and Current Limitations of Targeting the Brainstem Dorsal Column Nuclei Complex', Frontiers in Neuroscience, vol. 14, pp. 156, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00156

Hu D; van Zeyl M; Valter K; Potas JR, 2019, 'Sex, but not skin tone affects penetration of red-light (660 nm) through sites susceptible to sports injury in lean live and cadaveric tissues', Journal of Biophotonics, vol. 12, pp. e201900010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201900010

Loutit AJ; Shivdasani MN; Maddess T; Redmond SJ; Morley JW; Stuart GJ; Birznieks I; Vickery RM; Potas JR, 2019, 'Peripheral nerve activation evokes machine-learnable signals in the dorsal column nuclei', Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, vol. 13, pp. 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2019.00011

Loutit AJ; Maddess T; Redmond SJ; Morley JW; Stuart GJ; Potas JR, 2017, 'Characterisation and functional mapping of surface potentials in the rat dorsal column nuclei', Journal of Physiology, vol. 595, pp. 4507 - 4524, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP273759

Hu D; Zhu S; Potas JR, 2016, 'Red LED photobiomodulation reduces pain hypersensitivity and improves sensorimotor function following mild T10 hemicontusion spinal cord injury', Journal of Neuroinflammation, vol. 13, pp. 200, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12974-016-0679-3

Potas JR; De Castro NG; Maddess T; De Souza MN, 2015, 'Waveform similarity analysis: A simple template comparing approach for detecting and quantifying noisy evoked compound action potentials', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136992

Potas JR; Haque F; Maclean FL; Nisbet DR, 2015, 'Interleukin-10 conjugated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibre scaffolds for promoting alternatively activated (M2) macrophages around the peripheral nerve in vivo', Journal of Immunological Methods, vol. 420, pp. 38 - 49, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jim.2015.03.013

Fernández-Klett F; Potas JR; Hilpert D; Blazej K; Radke J; Huck J; Engel O; Stenzel W; Genové G; Priller J, 2013, 'Early loss of pericytes and perivascular stromal cell-induced scar formation after stroke', Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, vol. 33, pp. 428 - 439, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2012.187

Potas J; Zheng Y; Moussa C; Venn M; Gorrie CA; Deng C; Waite PM, 2006, 'Augmented locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury in the athymic nude rat', Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, vol. 23, pp. 660 - 673, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/neu.2006.23.660

Tan PSP; Potas JR; Killinger S; Horiuchi J; Goodchild AK; Pilowsky PM; Dampney RAL, 2005, 'Angiotensin II evokes hypotension and renal sympathoinhibition from a highly restricted region in the nucleus tractus solitarii', Brain Research, vol. 1036, pp. 70 - 76, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2004.12.018

Potas JR; Briscoe H; Horiuchi J; Killinger S; Dampney RAL, 2004, 'Renal sympathetic and cardiac changes associated with anaphylactic hypotension', Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical, vol. 112, pp. 25 - 30, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2004.03.004

Potas JR; Dampney RAL, 2004, 'Evidence that venoconstriction reverses the phase II sympathoinhibitory and bradycardic response to haemorrhage', Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical, vol. 111, pp. 1 - 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2003.12.003

Potas JR; Dampney RAL, 2003, 'Sympathoinhibitory pathway from caudal midline medulla to RVLM is independent of baroreceptor reflex pathway', American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 284, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00559.2002

Potas JR; Keay KA; Henderson LA; Bandler R, 2003, 'Somatic and visceral afferents to the 'vasodepressor region' of the caudal midline medulla in the rat', European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 17, pp. 1135 - 1149, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02535.x

Keay KA; Henderson LA; Heslop DJ; Potas JR; Bandler R, 2000, 'The caudal midline medulla mediates state dependent cardiovascular responses', EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 12, pp. 419 - 419, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000088236602394&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Hu D; Moalem-Taylor G; Potas JR, 'Red-light (670 nm) therapy reduces mechanical sensitivity and neuronal cell death, and alters glial responses following spinal cord injury in rats', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.22.960641

Conference Papers

Hu D; Zhu S; Potas J, 2015, 'Red light improves sensory and motor recovery following spinal cord injury in rats', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, pp. 237 - 237, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300586&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Sarraf S; Potas J, 2015, 'Red light pretreatment reduces mechanical hypersensitivity and improves locomotor recovery following sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, pp. 240 - 240, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australasian-Neuroscience-Society, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, 23 August 2015 - 27 August 2015, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300594&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Conference Presentations

Cheung R; Walters C; Vickery R; Birznieks I; Potas J, 2019, 'What can the rat dorsal column nuclei tell us about the limits of human tactile perception?', Chicago, presented at Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, 24 October 2019

Working Papers

Loutit A; Potas J, 2019, Novel neural signal features permit robust machine-learning of natural tactile- and proprioception-dominated dorsal column nuclei signals, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/831164