Neuromodulation to treat brain diseases

Paulo Aguiar

i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal

Neurological diseases are one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Their prevalence and incidence are also rising due to an ever growing and ever ageing world population. Current strategies to treat these pathologies mostly rely on pharmacological approaches. However, these tend to have numerous side effects and can become ineffective in the long-term.

Earlier studies have already shown that brain function is intimately related to the electrical activity of specific neuronal circuits. That is why recent initiatives have focused on precisely stimulating or modulating the electrical activity of neurons. Examples include deep brain stimulation used for Parkinson's disease and cochlear implants to alleviate hearing loss.

Despite the potential of these devices to stimulate the neuronal circuits, their development has been hindered by challenges such as the size of the devices themselves or the batteries they use. With NeuroSpark, the researchers in this project aim to develop and validate the first neuromodulation strategy based on electrical nanocomponents capable of emulating neuronal synapses. The goal is for this device to provide real-time adaptive control of neuronal activity. Its efficacy will be assessed, at first, in epilepsy models.

• Liset Menendez de la Prida, Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas- CSIC, Spain

• Joao Ventura, Universidade do Porto, Portugal

Neuromorphic devices for adaptive real-time neuromodulation in brain electrical stimulation therapies

€965,888.78