♿ This #DisabilityPride Month, we appreciate how experiences with disability can lead to life-changing innovations and discoveries. #NCWITAiC Community Member Daria Dragicevic is a living example and PhD student at Boston University who focuses on neurotechnology for rare conditions.
She joined the #AiCcommunity in 2016 after winning #NCWITAiC recognitions from the Northern California affiliate. In 2017, she was awarded an AspireIT grant and eagerly entered college at San Diego State University to pursue Electrical Engineering. As a freshman, diagnosis changed her career course.
Dystonia-27 is a rare neurological disorder that causes painful, involuntary muscle contractions. To date, only six other people have been documented with this specific condition. The trembling in her hands made it difficult to write code, and participate on her water polo team. Over a few years, she lost the ability to do things like prepare food and walk. She began to use a wheelchair and rely heavily on caregiver support.
Eventually, Daria’s care team recommended her to be the first Dystonia-27 patient to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. This type of awake brain surgery places electrodes deep in the brain to electrically stimulate areas causing dystonia symptoms. In 2020, Daria underwent the procedure with remarkable results. Since then, she's found a passion for research and shifted her focus to neurotechnology.
Now, she aims to improve therapies and resources for those with rare neurological disorders. Her research specializes on speech and voice, using data-driven approaches for studying movement disorders. Additionally, she is an avid advocate, sharing her journey with legislators.
We are grateful for Daria's leadership efforts at the state and federal levels, where she emphasizes the importance of investing in research to improve the understanding of rare diseases and the vital impact of advancing science and technology toward treatments and cures.
