Project description DEENESFRITPL An innovative approach for delivering brain therapeutics Our understanding of the brain and of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders is impeded by the lack of non-invasive methods for measuring neural circuits. The EU-funded EngineeringBAP project is working on innovative technologies that will allow large-scale single-neuron resolution measurements as well as the modulation of neural circuits through the precise delivery of neuromodulators. As a proof-of-principle, scientists have already corrected brain abnormalities in mutant zebrafish, through the localised delivery of a neuromodulator cocktail. The work will help study brain activity in detail and characterise the circuit dysfunctions associated with neurological disorders, thereby paving the way for improved treatments. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders are complex dysfunctions of neuronal circuits. Their treatmenthas been limited by the lack of non-invasive methods for measuring the underlying circuit dysfunctions, andfor direct and localized modifications of these circuits. We propose minimally invasive technologies formeasuring brain activity and functional connectivity patterns, and for manipulating them directly in vivo tocorrect the abnormal behavioural phenotypes (in rodents with potential scalability to non-human primates andhumans). First, we present a proof-of-principle study on mutant zebrafish, in which we correct whole-brainlevel abnormal activity patterns and behaviours by using large-scale single-neuron resolution measurements,and by simultaneously modulating multiple sub-networks via neuromodulator cocktails. Next, we presentstrong preliminary data in rodents and our plan: (1) For manipulating brain circuits in rodents/primates noninvasively,we will develop technologies that can deliver receptive-specific neuromodulators to spatiallyprecise brain targets without opening/damaging the blood brain barrier. These methods will employ engineeredultrasound pulses and drug carrying microparticles we designed. (2) For reading out the brain circuits inrodents/primates, we will develop flexible low-power neuromorphic μECoG circuits that can detect singleneuron signals from superficial cortical layers of many cortical areas simultaneously. (3) Finally, these noveltechnologies will be comprehensively evaluated on a mouse model of obsessive compulsivity and anxietyusing a battery of behavioural tasks to reverse the pathological symptoms (beyond what is achievable byexisting approaches). This project constitutes a major step towards the development and testing of minimallyinvasiveand high-precision technologies for manipulating brain activity patterns, which can impact both ourunderstanding of the brain and treatment of intractable brain disorders. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogyprimatologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsultrasound Keywords EngineeringBAP Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2018-COG - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2018-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Coordinator EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Net EU contribution € 1 998 984,00 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Switzerland Net EU contribution € 1 998 984,00 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
