Project description
Advancing brain disease diagnosis
Brain diseases are one of the biggest health challenges in the world today. Understanding how neural disorders arise requires deeper insights into electrical activity, molecular changes and chemical signalling in the brain. Current tools have advanced knowledge but cannot fully capture the complex nature of neural dynamics. They also rely on external markers, limiting their use in medical applications. In this context, the ERC-funded NEUROLIDAR project is tackling these issues with a groundbreaking, label-free method. Using light-matter interactions and advanced optical probes, the project aims to monitor brain activity at both local and global levels. This innovative approach could revolutionise neuroscience, offering new ways to diagnose and treat brain diseases.
Objective
The growing societal burden of brain diseases is one of the most significant health challenges globally. To help diagnose or treat these pathologies, there is widespread agreement that a deeper understanding is needed on the origin of neural disorders linked to electrical neural activity, neuromodulators dynamics and molecular alterations.
To this aim, the combination of optical methods with genetically expressed molecular probes has enabled great advances in understanding brain mechanisms. However, the existing tools fail in capturing a comprehensive picture of multifaceted neural dynamics. In addition, the translational applications of these technique are hindered by the need for exogenous reporters.
As a result, there is a major scientific and technological gap that obstructs the full exploitation of cutting edge neuro technologies to relieve the impact of brain diseases in the human population.
To bridge this gap, this project proposes an innovative approach to monitor neural dynamics in the mammalian brain using label free light matter interactions without exogenous reporters. To do this, I will develop a radically novel strategy harnessing the temporal and spectral dynamics of light stimuli interacting with the brain through photonic neural interfaces enhanced by integrated optical nano modulators. This approach will surpass the limitations of existing techniques in monitoring the physical complexity of neural signals.
I will aim at three main objectives: O1) developing label free molecular sensing in arbitrary deep brain regions O2) developing label free, multifunctional, ultrathin, all-optical probes for dissecting the local micro-circuitry O3) developing label free, large-scale all-optical systems for multifunctional recordings at the global brain scale.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics fibre optics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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 - HORIZON ERC 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-2024-STG
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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.
35122 Padova
Italy
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.