Adam Sachs

Dr. Adam Sachs is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine, where he also serves as an Assistant Professor at the Brain and Mind Research Institute. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University. Dr. Sachs is a Neurosurgeon at The Ottawa Hospital and serves as the Director of Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery.

Dr. Sachs completed his Bachelor of Science at McGill University in physiology and math, and a Master of Science at York University in applied mathematics researching mechanisms of human edge detection. During his neurosurgery residency at the University of Ottawa he participated in the Clinical Investigator program, performing neurophysiology and brain computer interface research in non-human primates. He was a Clinical Instructor in Functional and Spine neurosurgery at Stanford University from 2010 to 2012.

His research focuses on using brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to help individuals with movement disorders. His work explores how real-time feedback of brain signals can enable participants to control external effectors such as robotic arms or virtual reality objects. This approach shows potential for inducing plasticity that provides symptom recovery for conditions like Parkinson's Disease, focal dystonia, and essential tremor, as well as offering communication channels for individuals with severe disabilities.

Dr. Sachs' research spans neuroscience, neurosurgery, and engineering disciplines, with particular emphasis on neural signal processing, brain-computer interfaces, and neuromodulation techniques. His publication record demonstrates expertise in prefrontal cortex function, neural decoding, and the development of practical BCI systems that bridge clinical applications with fundamental neuroscience research.

• Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Ottawa
• Assistant Professor, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa
• Adjunct Professor, Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University
• Director of Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery, The Ottawa Hospital
• Associate Scientist, Neurosciences, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Dr. Sachs supervises graduate students including Alireza Rouzitalab and Min Wah Leung, and leads the Sachs Lab which focuses on innovative approaches to neurorehabilitation and brain-computer interfaces. His research has significant clinical implications for treating movement disorders and restoring function to individuals with neurological disabilities.