Walter Besio

Associate Professor
Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
(401) 874-4738
besio@ele.uri.edu

Dr. Besio is an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. He holds a Ph.D. degree and a Master degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering and is an IEEE Senior Member. Dr. Besio specializes in the research and development of innovative biomedical instrumentation for diagnosis and medical therapies to enhance the lives of persons with disease and disability.

The main areas of research in the Besio Lab are neuromodulation and brain computer interfacing. We have shown that noninvasive electrical stimulation from concentric ring electrodes has positive effects on rat acute seizure models. We have also shown an enhancement of an antiepileptic drug (diazepam) by noninvasive concentric ring electrode electrical stimulation. Recently we also found and enhancement of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and down regulation of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. We have also developed an electroencephalogram (EEG) based brain computer interface (BCI) to help persons with severe movement disorders to control computers.

Prior to joining academia, Dr. Besio had twelve years of professional experience in the medical device and electronics industries. He was one of the first few employees of a medical device startup company (Medicomp) where he was involved with the full cycle of concepts, prototypes, and eventually taking new products to market.

Dr. Besio is an active member of the American Epilepsy Society (Technical Committee), IEEE EMBS (EMBS Sensors Council representative), Society for Neuroscience, International Society of Electrocardiography, Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, and Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Alumni Association.