The UPSIDE project proposes an Epidural Brain Interface (EBI) featuring a minimally invasive, responsive neural stimulation system that utilizes focused ultrasound multi-brain region stimulation (eFUS) and high spatio-temporal resolution electrical recording (eREC) to innovate the way we treat TRD (Fig.1). Epidural deployment of these devices will be enabled by the combination of state-of-the-art microelectronic devices with the latest advances in organic neuroelectronics. This massive miniaturization and the avoidance of disrupting the dura mater and brain tissue leads to a decreased device size and highly minimizes the complexity of the surgery and the implantation risk. This translates to a more favourable risk-benefit profile when compared to other invasive techniques such as deep brain stimulation.
The UPSIDE project encompasses four research objectives:
• Research and design energy-efficient CMOS circuits for interfacing with 2D arrays of ultrasound transducers and organic neural recording arrays
• Design and integrate ultrasound transducers and organic neural recording arrays with the CMOS interfaces in a biocompatible and flexible epidural system, to achieve a full EBI
• Research neural signal decoding tools to identify depression biomarkers to enable a personalized therapy for depression
• Assess safety and efficacy of the EBI in addressing depression-like symptoms in vivo, in behavioral rat models of depression
The UPSIDE project will result in an EBI that will allow, for the first time, in vivo behavioural experiments with animal models with depression-like symptoms under the stimulation of different brain regions along relevant neural pathways while simultaneously monitoring neural signals as biomarkers. While this will be researched in a pre-clinical setting with rat animal models, UPSIDE will enable designs, methods, and biocompatible materials that can be translated to humans.
The UPSIDE project is actively pursuing the development of an innovative epidural brain interface (EBI). The work encompasses the development of the device itself and the methodologies for its application. Device development is progressing, with ongoing work being done in the design and fabrication of CMOS interfaces and ultrasound transducers.
