Input for "Outrageous Science" Brainstorming Session

July 18-19 2012 Planning Meeting

for NSF Workshop on Medical Device Innovation Using Cyber Physical Systems

Input for “Outrageous Science” Brainstorming Session

There are two methods of research – Opportunity-driven (i.e. technologies, devices, etc looking for a clinical application) and Requirement-driven (needs as described by clinicians).  The “mutual exposing” of these two approaches to clinical and technology participants can stimulate new out-of-the-box ideas. 

In contrast to the usual focus on making something better, we want to consider creative destruction – discovering totally new science and applications that revolutionize a given area – not solutions that will iteratively make something a bit better.  We need to push the limits and use newly discovered science (in non-medical arenas like material science, biophotonics, etc) to create revolutionary (not evolutionary) solutions.

In today’s information age, science rotates more around information and energy – creation of systems that are “intelligent” (i.e. new control theories) and can perform diagnosis (using sensors), process information immediately, and then deliver a therapeutic option (actuators) – in real time, using a hand-held portable (point-of-care) device.  The new technologies that address scale (i.e. micro/nano-scale devices that work in real time in micro/milli-seconds) provide a generalizable approach to projects that might be substance for government solicitations.  

“Outrageous science” ideas often start with crazy statements like “why don’t we record someone’s thoughts and send them directly into someone else’s brain” – well,  people like Ted Berger (USC) are applying optogenetics to take the first steps to do that.  So what may have seemed completely ridiculous is now under serious scientific consideration – and with some early and plausible solutions.

Projects expressed as a Grand Challenge with a futuristic scenario vision can be used to stimulate researchers to really extend their creativity – and not be afraid to appear to be stupid or crazy or afraid to fail.

One great outcome from the full workshop might be a vision that brings together a number of projects (either opportunity- or requirement-driven) which have been identified as having a common thread, but which taken together form a totally new approach to some aspect of health care.  We need to create a vision of what the incredible change would be if science/technology/clinicians could achieve something together.  Very creative proposals can come forward when you ask someone to do the impossible.  As Michelangelo (1503) said, “the only thing more dangerous than trying too hard and failing – is not trying hard enough and succeeding.”

Many thanks to Rick Satava for the concepts summarized here.