Insight into the interaction between the electrodes of implants and the brain tissue will help maximize the potential of the Brain Computer Interfacing technology and is expected to lead to a new generation of brain electrodes for neuroprosthetics and deep brain stimulation. The Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has recently launched a new Laboratory of Neurotechnology, thanks to the support of the EU-funded “VIBraTE” ERA Chair project. The laboratory focuses on studying the brain and its interaction with implanted electrodes, using advanced methods of modeling and experimentation. The purpose of the ERA Chair is to attract leading international researchers who bring their expertise and international networks and launch new research lines at the host institutions.
The scientific objectives of the VIBraTE project are to
- Model and study how implants and the brain interact through viscoelastic forces;
- Design shapes that improve the recording quality and reliability of invasive brain electrodes;
- Analyze how substances diffuse around implants and how this influences their functionality;
- Model the mechanical effects on the brain activity that is recorded;
Heading the project is Prof. Dimiter Prodanov, MD, who also holds a position at the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec) in Leuven, Belgium—a world-leading research center in the area of nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Since 2008 Dimiter Prodanov conducted research in the development of deep brain stimulation and recording electrodes. Prof. Prodanov has a rich and diverse academic and professional background in neuroscience, medicine, and engineering. Originally a doctor of medicine by training, Prof. Prodanov's research contributions span computational biology, mathematical epidemiology, as well as therapeutic modulation of brain activity. His technical pursuits involve the assessment of technological risks, and the development of computer algebra tools and numerical algorithms to model biophysical phenomena and analyze images.
The VIBraTE Chair relies on the combined expertise of Prof. Prodanov with the relevant expertise in neural network models, scientific computing, and signal processing, already available at the host. The VIBraTE Chair will allow for the formation of a top-notch research group within Bulgaria, which will become a central knowledge hub for neurotechnology in the country.
