Hayriye Cagnan

Hayriye Cagnan is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Engineering. She specializes in neural engineering and movement disorders, focusing on deep brain stimulation (DBS) and tremor pathophysiology. Her research integrates computational modeling, signal processing, and clinical neuroscience to develop adaptive neurotherapies. Cagnan holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Amsterdam and Philips Research, and has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Oxford and University College London.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Cornell University, 2000–2004) – Fulbright Scholar
• M.Sc. in Engineering and Physical Science in Medicine (Imperial College London, 2004–2005) – Chevening Scholar
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience (University of Amsterdam/Philips Research, 2010)

Research Interests: Her work addresses neural mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and other movement disorders. Key areas include:

• Development of adaptive DBS systems for tremor management
• Neural circuit dynamics and oscillations in basal ganglia networks
• Non-invasive neurostimulation techniques (e.g., TMS, tRNS)
• Machine learning for optimizing neurotherapeutic interventions

Publications: Recent work emphasizes closed-loop systems, phase-specific stimulation, and translational neuroscience. Her studies explore how DBS modulates movement speed, reward processing, and neural oscillatory patterns in Parkinsonian patients.

Awards:

• MRC Career Development Award (2018)
• MRC Skills Development Fellowship (2015)
• British Chevening Scholarship (2004)

Lab & Collaboration: Leads the Neuroengineering and Dynamic Systems Lab at Imperial, collaborating with clinicians and engineers to advance neuromodulation therapies. Active in initiatives like NEUROMOD+ for next-generation neurotherapies.