Project description
Leveraging the cerebellum to treat resistant psychiatric symptoms
In addition to coordinating movement, the cerebellum also plays a role in how we think and feel. Even though it takes up only 10 % of the brain’s volume, it is packed with more than half of all our neurons. Many of these are wired into areas responsible for higher-order thought, making the cerebellum a prime target for non-invasive brain stimulation. The ERC-funded CLOVIS project aims to use this connection to treat symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, especially those that do not respond well to standard medication. This project will use MRI models and direct brain recordings. Researchers will pinpoint exactly where and how to apply stimulation for best results. The goal is to move from lab theories to a clinical trial, proving that personalised brain stimulation can actually improve daily life for people with these conditions.
Objective
Have you ever had that moment where you reach for something, convinced it is heavy, but it is actually light? Your arm jolts upward, correcting itself before you realise the difference. This split second adjustment is thanks to your cerebellum, the part of your brain responsible for fine-tuning movements by integrating sensory feedback. While the cerebellum is traditionally associated with motor control, it plays a similar role in cognitive functions. Despite occupying 10% of the brain’s volume, the cerebellum houses more than 50% of its neurons, many of which are integral to higher cognitive processes. Its extensive connections with brain regions responsible for complex thought and emotion make it a promising target for non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) especially in addressing the resistant cognitive and negative symptoms observed in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. However, a significant challenge persists: clinical research on NIBS often relies on a trial-and-error approach, while fundamental research has yet to fully translate electrophysiological findings into circuit-level applications that can guide clinical interventions. To bridge this gap, I will develop normative models from large-scale MRI cohorts to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from cerebellar stimulation and then derive a personalised cerebellar target. Concurrently, animal studies using ultra-high field MRI will be conducted to determine optimal cerebellar stimulation parameters. With intracranial recordings, I will explore the neuroplastic changes induced by NIBS in humans. The project will culminate in a proof-of-concept clinical trial aiming at improving cognitive and negative symptoms across schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism with cerebellar NIBS. This multidisciplinary project has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of resistant psychiatric symptoms and catalyse advancements in the understanding of NIBS.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2025-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
94010 Creteil
France
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.