EUDEX takes place from 22–25 September 2026 at Messe Essen, bringing together stakeholders from industry, policy and the security and defence sectors to exchange ideas on emerging technologies and challenges.

The BrainGuard project addresses cybersecurity in neurotechnology. As brain-computer interfaces and neuromodulatory implants advance, protecting sensitive neural data and preventing manipulation of these systems become increasingly important.

By combining expertise in neuroscience and cybersecurity, BrainGuard aims to develop security concepts that safeguard neural data, user autonomy and mental privacy.

Thank you to Max for sharing these impressions from the event! 🧠🔒

Learn more about BrainGuard →

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VirTUE is an international research network bringing together researchers and practitioners from different disciplines to advance the responsible development of virtual worlds, immersive technologies and artificial intelligence.

The Action will explore the technological, social and ethical questions emerging from the growing integration of virtual environments into everyday life. Through international collaboration, it aims to connect expertise across disciplines and support the development of inclusive, trustworthy and human-centred virtual technologies.

In his new role, Dr. Pilacinski will represent Germany within the Action and contribute his expertise in neuroscience, virtual reality and human–technology interaction. His appointment will also create new opportunities for international research collaboration and knowledge exchange.

We warmly congratulate Dr. Pilacinski on this appointment and look forward to KlaesLab’s contribution to the VirTUE network! 🌐🥽

Learn more about COST Action VirTUE →

The seminar brought together neuroscientists and HCI researchers to explore how the brain handles embodiment in virtual and extended reality — from avatar agency and sensory feedback to phantom sensations and biomechanics. The goal: spark new collaborations shaping the future of embodiment in XR.

Full details and participant list: Dagstuhl Seminar 26262. 🥽🧠

In the interview, Prof. Klaes explains what makes securing neurotechnological systems so unique: the extraordinary intimacy of neural data, which sits far closer to our personal identity than data from, say, a blood analysis. The conversation covers both sides of the challenge our BrainGuard project investigates — protecting sensitive brain data and preventing active, often unnoticed manipulation of a system, for example through deep brain stimulation. Prof. Klaes also addresses the trade-off between security and usability, the growing interest hackers will take as implants reach the mass market, and why informing regulators and decision-makers early lets us act proactively rather than reactively. The goal: ensuring that people can use their implants without fear of hacks, manipulation, or the loss of their most private data. You can read the full interview (in German) with Medizin und Technik here: Cybersecurity muss den Persönlichkeitskern schützen. 🧠🔒🚀

The BrainGuard kick-off meeting marked the beginning of a new research endeavor focused on Neurocybersecurity — an emerging field exploring the vulnerabilities and protection of neurotechnological systems and brain-computer interfaces. The team assembled to align on goals, discuss research directions, and lay the groundwork for the project ahead.

We are thrilled to embark on this journey and look forward to sharing updates as BrainGuard progresses. Stay tuned for more news from the team! 🔐🧠

neuroXRehab (CA24123) is a COST Action network focused on Extended Reality Neurorehabilitation of Spatial Neglect and Related Disorders After Brain Injury. The meeting brought together researchers and clinicians from across Europe working to advance XR-based therapeutic approaches for patients with acquired brain injuries.

Merve’s participation reflects KlaesLab’s growing engagement with European research networks at the intersection of neurotechnology and rehabilitation. We look forward to the collaborations and insights that emerge from this exciting initiative! 🌍🥽

For more information about the neuroXRehab COST Action, visit the official meeting page.

In his talk, Dr. Pilacinski presented recent work on the Phantom Touch Illusion, in which people in virtual reality experience a tingling or touch sensation on their body when interacting with virtual objects, even without physical contact. This phenomenon provides new insights into how the brain integrates movement, touch, and body representation in immersive environments.

The Gesundheitskongress des Westens is one of the leading healthcare congresses in Germany, held annually in Cologne. This year’s edition took place under the motto “Produktivität freisetzen! Ambitionen leben!” (Unleash Productivity! Live Ambitions!), focusing on the transformation of the German healthcare system. Prof. Klaes represented our department at this important event bringing together key stakeholders from healthcare, policy, and research.

The CATlab — Cognition, Action and Touch Lab — is a newly established junior research group led by Dr. Art Pilacinski. The group focuses on the interplay between cognitive processes, motor action, and tactile perception. We congratulate Art on this exciting milestone!

As neurotechnologies like Brain-Computer Interfaces and neuromodulatory implants become increasingly used in medical therapy, protecting sensitive neural data from cyber threats becomes critical. BrainGuard — funded by the EFRE programme of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the European Union — develops novel security concepts to safeguard neural data and prevent manipulation of neurotechnological systems.

🎧 Listen to the full interview: Deutschlandfunk – Computer und Kommunikation

Conducted in collaboration with the research groups of Prof. Dr. Christian Klaes and Prof. Dr. Christian Zenger at Ruhr University Bochum, alongside industry partners PHYSEC and snap Discovery, this project aims to protect highly sensitive neural data and Brain-Computer Interfaces from emerging cyber threats. You can learn more about our mission to safeguard digital medicine in the official RUB press release. 🧠🔒🚀

Conducted in collaboration with the Lehrstuhl für Produktionssysteme (LPS) at Ruhr University Bochum. We wish Jannis all the best for his next steps and are proud to have supported this exciting research at the intersection of neuroscience and production engineering! 🤖👁️🎉

Titled “Virtual Bodies for Real Humans – Avatars, Sensations and Emotions,” this collection investigates the bridge between technology and human experience, from phantom touch to emotional embodiment. We invite you to submit your work! 🥽📝

Her thesis, titled “Implicit and Explicit Motor Sequence Learning: Neural Oscillations and Behavioral Dynamics,” investigates the complex neural mechanisms and behavioral patterns underlying how the human brain learns and adapts to movement sequences. We congratulate her on this outstanding achievement! 🧠🎓📉🎉

This interdisciplinary work represents a strong collaboration between the Iossifidis Lab and KlaesLab. Dr. Fidêncio’s research advances the field of neurotechnology by exploring how human error signals can be used to improve machine learning strategies in Brain-Computer Interfaces. 🎓🧠💻🎉

The week-long seminar (June 21-26, 2026) will bring together international experts in neuroscience and human-computer interaction to explore how humans embody and interact with virtual avatars in extended reality. Topics will include agency, sensory feedback, phantom senses, and avatar biomechanics. 🧠🤖🇩🇪

Expect presentations, talks and participate in real neuroscientific experiments such as ours! Participation is free, come over, meet the team and participate in scientific research!

The meeting brought together researchers exploring the interface between human-computer interaction and neuroscience for a week of interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration. 🧠💻🇯🇵

Explore groundbreaking neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and machine learning innovations in an accessible, engaging format.

🎧 Listen now: YouTube Playlist

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