Project description
A miniature brain made from organic 'synapses' classifies cells in a tabletop device
Computers have long been equated with brains, but we are only now getting close to truly neuromorphic architectures and processing. Artificial intelligence started out with rules-based classical logic and progressed to learning based on inference and experience. To reach the next level where decisions can be made in novel situations that are not predetermined in any way, scientists are turning toward ever more human-like architectures. Researchers behind the EU-funded BIOMORPHIC project previously developed an organic artificial synapse, mimicking the junction across which two neurons transmit information in the form of an electrochemical signal. BIOMORPHIC plans to take that to incredible new heights, creating an interconnected network of these 'synapses' able to classify cells in an inexpensive microfluidic device.
Objective
Brain-inspired (neuromorphic) computing has recently demonstrated advancements in pattern and image recognition as well as classification of unstructured (big) data. However, the volatility and energy required for neuromorphic devices presented to date significantly complicate the path to achieve the interconnectivity and efficiency of the brain. In previous work, recently published in Nature Materials, the PI has demonstrated a low-cost solution to these drawbacks: an organic artificial synapse as a building-block for organic neuromorphics. The conductance of this single synapse can be accurately tuned by controlled ion injection in the conductive polymer, which could trigger unprecedented low-energy analogue computing.
Hence, the major challenge in the largely unexplored field of organic neuromorphics, is to create an interconnected network of these synapses to obtain a true neuromorphic array which will not only be exceptionally pioneering in materials research for neuromorphics and machine-learning, but can also be adopted in a multitude of vital medical research devices. BIOMORPHIC will develop a unique brain-inspired organic lab-on-a-chip in which microfluidics integrated with sensors, collecting characteristics of biological cells, will serve as input to the neuromorphic array. BIOMORPHIC will combine modular microfluidics and machine-learning to develop a novel platform for low-cost lab-on-a-chip devices capable of on-chip cell classification.
In particular, BIOMORPHIC will focus on the detection of circulating tumour cells (CTC). Current methods for the detection of cancer are generally invasive, whereas analysing CTCs in blood offers a highly desired alternative. However, accurately detecting and isolating these cells remains a challenge due to their low prevalence and large variability. The strength of neuromorphics precisely lies in finding patterns in such variable data, which will result in a ground-breaking CTC classification lab-on-a-chip.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chip
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands