Project description DEENESFRITPL Neuroprosthesis coordination according to the sleep-wake cycle Technology to restore lost nervous system function has the potential to provide autonomy and improve quality of life. Neuroprosthetic devices employ electronic components to transmit electronic signals to the nervous system and can substitute for impaired motor, sensory or cognitive functions in various disorders. The EU-funded MoRPHEUS project aims to develop a novel neuroprosthetic approach that monitors brain activity and delivers electrical stimulation according to the sleep-wake cycle (SWC). Researchers will employ a rat model to record the SWC pattern of brain activity and test the coordinated delivery of electrical stimulation as a means of achieving motor rehabilitation in injured animals. Results have important clinical consequences especially for the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Brain lesions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury are a major cause of adult-onset disability. Physical therapy, together with robotic aided rehabilitation, is the gold standard for promoting motor recovery. Yet, half of the affected individuals do not fully recover their daily living skills. Hope is provided by advanced neuroprosthetic devices, acting directly at the brain level to promote plasticity, but to date, they still fall short of producing long-lasting brain rewiring. The often neglected but close relationship between sleep, neural plasticity, pathogenesis, and recovery can constitute a key factor to advance treatment. Within this framework, the primary goal of this project is to devise and test a novel neuroprosthetic approach that monitors brain activity and the sleep-wake cycle (SWC) in order to deliver responsive and engineered electrical stimulation (ES) coded in time. To do this, we aim to: 1) investigate SWC architecture in animal models of brain lesion to better understand pathological modifications and to find privileged windows of neural plasticity to deliver therapeutic ES; 2) design, build, and test a closed-loop system capable of recording, processing and detecting SWC stages and electrographic events of interest (e.g. spindles), and also of delivering coordinated ES, including activity-dependent and time-coded stimulation, and; 3) evaluate the designed approach regarding its efficacy in providing long-lasting, robust, and safe motor rehabilitation to injured animals, while also obtaining a proof-of-concept in humans. Highly complementary skills from fellow and host will cooperate to carry in vivo electrophysiology experiments and technological development, while translational pilot experiments will be performed in close collaboration with partners in the medical field. Finally, secondments will provide additional training on state-of-the-art engineering of closed-loop systems and entrepreneurship in neurotechnology. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinephysiotherapymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants Keywords closed-loop systems motor disorders motor rehabilitation neuroprosthesis sleep stroke traumatic brain injury Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA Net EU contribution € 183 473,28 Address VIA MOREGO 30 16163 Genova Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Liguria Genova Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 183 473,28
