Project description
Measuring the wiring architecture of the human brain and its individual variability
The brain network remains elusive, but a key step towards untangling its complexity is mapping its connections, the wiring that determines what the brain can and cannot compute. The set of brain connections is unique for every person and connectional abnormalities are reflected in mental illness. Yet, there are fundamental limitations in mapping connections for the individual. The EU-funded Neuro-Metrology project is combining computational and experimental research to develop advanced methods, based on magnetic resonance imaging, for robust, reproducible and interpretable measurements of brain connections. Researchers envision enabling the mapping of personalised signatures of brain architecture and linking connection patterns to behavioural and psychiatric traits.
Objective
A key step towards untangling the complexity of the human brain is to understand how functionally specialised subunits are interconnected in the brain’s network to influence each other and produce experiences and behaviour. Magnetic resonance imaging uniquely allows to explore this systems-level view of neural connections and to probe brain organisation.
Despite great promise, conventional approaches have experienced difficulties in delivering robust and tangible applications, particularly for the individual, either for neuroscience or clinical practice. The connectome, the comprehensive map of brain connections, is unique in every person; yet there are fundamental limitations in its personalised mapping. Lack of standardised, accurate measures of brain connections and absence of objective references introduce errors and reduce interpretability and reproducibility.
I will develop a novel algorithmic platform for brain connectivity mapping, which will establish measurement principles to allow, for the first time, quantitative and objective characterisation of the brain connectome and its individual variability. Through a mixture of highly-interdisciplinary computational and experimental research, I propose to tackle unmet challenges and shift the paradigm from ad-hoc image processing pipelines to a comprehensive framework governed by principles of metrology. I will develop platforms that a) integrate cross-modal information for accurate standardised measurements of brain connections and b) link these measurements to reference standards, reflecting the population, as well as the individual.
I will subsequently tackle important representative questions that rely on the ability to capture personalised signatures of the brain architecture: in basic neuroscience, the ability to predict the neural connectivity that underpins behavioural traits; in clinical neuroscience, the ability to use normative models of connections to improve subject-specific diagnosis in depression.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
NG7 2RD Nottingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.