Project description
Taking a closer look at sleep pathophysiology
Insufficient sleep is an under-reported epidemic and potentially linked to early signs of neurodegeneration. The EU-funded NAP project will address the issue and seek to break new ground in sleep research. Specifically, it will develop a model that studies individual sleep pathophysiology, merging in vitro modeling, allometric scaling, signal processing, and micromanufacturing. NAP will develop a cyborganoid, set up an experimental procedure to mimic sleep in vitro, exploit allometry, and deliver the first tool for Parkinson’s disease early diagnosis. The long-term goal is to lead sleep research and innovation through a predictive medicine twin-on-a-chip. The project has the potential to improve healthcare costs and have a tremendous impact on pharmacological research and the healthcare sector.
Objective
Insufficient sleep is an under-reported epidemic and sleep disturbances are common early signs of neurodegeneration. Clinical research is currently challenging the assumption that human sleep is a one-fits-all phenomenon: breaking new grounds into sleep research is needed. NAP makes real the study of individual sleep pathophysiology through a new science-to-technology paradigm merging in vitro modelling, allometric scaling, signal processing and micromanufacturing. NAP targets five breakthroughs: 1) the development of the first model enabling the accurate study of individual sleep, 2) the realization of the cyborganoid, i.e. the next generation of biohybrid model of the human brain, 3) the setup of an experimental procedure to mimic sleep in vitro accounting for a person’s lifestyle, metabolism and genetic makeup, 4) the exploitation of allometry to obtain meaningful information from in vitro to humans and 5) the delivery of the first tool for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) early diagnosis. As a Proof of Principle, NAP will identify the effects of sleep deprivation and detect sleep-related signs of PD in a personalised perspective. In the long-term, NAP will move Europe to lead sleep research and innovation through its envisioned technology: a predictive medicine twin-on-a-chip allowing the public at large to be routinely screened for i) checking their sleep health, ii) being warned about the consequences of sleep loss, iii) predating PD and other neuropathies characterized by sleep anomalies. This will be of benefit for science, society and economy. NAP Proof of Principle will deliver the first tool for accurately extrapolating biological parameters from in vitro to humans. The identification of individual sleep needs will allow the targeted detection of people suffering from sleep disorders, scaling back healthcare costs. Sleep-related neurodegeneration biomarkers will have tremendous implications in pharmacological research and enterprise and in the healthcare sector
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepsychiatrysleep disorders
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chip
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologypathophysiology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyparkinson
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
56126 Pisa
Italy