Project description
Revolutionising visual pathway diagnostics
Neural signals travel from the retina – the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye – to the visual cortex of the brain where the visual information is processed. The speed at which this information is transmitted along the visual pathway could offer insights into neurodegeneration and potential diagnostic markers for conditions affecting the visual system. Funded by the European Research Council, the OptiVision project aims to create a diagnostic tool for measuring this retinocortical conduction time. The technology is based on optically pumped magnetometers and is intended to diagnose conditions before visible symptoms emerge by detecting disruptions in myelination, circulation and neural connectivity with enhanced accuracy and sensitivity.
Objective
The human visual pathway carries high volumes of information from the retina to distant regions of visual cortex. The speed of this information transfer, retinocortical conduction time, has been proposed as a diagnostic measure of neurodegeneration. This conduction time has typically been estimated based on relatively slow evoked responses, although we now know that high-frequency activity in both the retina and visual cortex precede slower evoked responses by several tens of milliseconds. In addition, the difference in timing between the onset of high-frequency activity in the retina and cortex is more in line with the expected conduction velocities of the heavily myelinated visual pathway.
This project proposes to develop and validate a new sensor technology, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), to measure this high-frequency retinocortical conduction time, with a view towards establishing a diagnostic suitable for patients in the neurology and eye clinics to assess disease progression. Impacts to myelination, circulation, and neural connectivity are all expected to reduce the conduction speed of the visual pathway, even before visual symptoms become apparent. The proposed high-frequency conduction time technique should provide a more accurate and sensitive measure to detect these impacts, with high potential for translation into a clinical diagnostic method. We will furthermore streamline the measurement procedure to increase the comfort, duration, and feasibility for potential patient groups.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine ophthalmology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology
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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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HORIZON.1.1 - 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.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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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-2023-POC
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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.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.