Project description
Miniature electronic devices for future bioelectric medicine applications
The EU-funded HiMISER project focuses on future concepts for electronic medical implants. Current medical implants typically consist of a titanium casing with electronics and a few lead wires. The idea is to replace them with less intrusive, tissue-like implants for applications in the field of electroceuticals or bioelectric medicine. Instead of chemical drugs circulating through the entire body, the electroceuticals research aims to develop therapies based on the local stimulation of a nerve of the autonomous nervous system that leads to the target organ. HiMISER will capitalise on the pre-existing research results from the µThalys project to create a new generation of biostimulators. Miniature electronics and high-resolution neural implants will provide the proof-of-concept for devices that enable precision stimulation in peripheral nerves.
Objective
In my ERC project ‘µThalys’, we are researching future concepts for electronic medical implants. The main idea is to replace current medical implants that typically consist of a titanium casing with electronics and a few lead wires with less intrusive, softer, tissue-like implants. These future generation implants consist of soft, modular, miniature transducer nodes that can act stand-alone, or be connected in a network, thus forming e.g. an implantable sensor network. Now, the main idea driving this proof-of-concept (PoC) project application is that the results of our research could be very suitable to apply in an upcoming field that uses peripheral autonomous nerve stimulation for therapeutic ends. This is mostly referred to as ‘electroceuticals’ or ‘bioelectric medicine’. Rather than using chemical drugs that circulate through the entire body, the field of electroceuticals aims to develop therapies based on local stimulation of a nerve of the autonomous nervous system that leads to the target organ. For example, instead of taking drugs to reduce stomach acid formation the part of the vagus nerve going to the stomach can be stimulated to achieve the same therapeutic effect while reducing side-effects. However, current nerve stimulation devices are rather crude and stimulate all fibres in a nerve using a cuff electrode. Moreover, they are too large to allow them to be used in small animal studies. The non-availability of a miniature, high-resolution peripheral nerve stimulator is therefore a significant roadblock for researchers in the field, and for the future application in humans. In this project, we will combine our existing research results from the µThalys project to create a new generation of stimulators. Miniature electronics devices, packaging and soft high-resolution neural implants will enable miniature proof-of-concept devices that demonstrate precision stimulation in peripheral nerves. First steps towards commercialisation will be taken.
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
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors smart sensors
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology implants
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - 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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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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-2018-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.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
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.