Project description DEENESFRITPL Advancing the treatment of epilepsy Epilepsy treatment fails in nearly one third of patients, leaving millions suffering from drug-resistant epileptic episodes. Non-invasive brain transcranial current stimulation (tCS) is emerging as a promising solution, but poor understanding of its short- and long-term effects limits its application. The EU-funded GALVANI project is investigating the impact weak electric fields have on the physiology of neurons and neural networks. The key objective is to understand if these electric pulses can improve the patient-specific epileptogenic network. The project will generate mechanistic insight that will be combined with computational models to develop personalised tCS protocols and prevent epileptic seizures. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting 65 million people worldwide. Pharmacological treatments or surgery are ineffective in one third of the cases – 19 million people. Recent findings indicate that non-invasive brain transcranial current stimulation (tCS) is safe and of therapeutic promise in epilepsy. However, it is not yet indicated as a standard treatment due to major scientific limitations: unknown mechanisms of action, insufficient account for patient-specific factors, poor understanding of short- and long-term effects.Our ambition is to transform the care of a large fraction of patients living with drug-resistant epilepsies by solving a fundamental problem: to efficiently target and control large-scale epileptic brain networks with tCS-induced neuromodulatory weak electric fields.To proceed, GALVANI’s synergetic research strategy addresses four interdisciplinary challenges: (1) Unravel the intricate relationship between weak electric fields and their neurophysiological effects at the level of neurons, neuronal assemblies and networks; (2) Maximize their therapeutic effects by altering the neurodynamics of patient-specific epileptogenic networks; (3) Develop optimal personalized neuromodulation protocols for novel multichannel tCS technologies; (4) Test optimized protocols in a cohort of patients and objectively define potential responders.The required competences and resources are met in GALVANI, uniting the passion and background of three experts and their teams in biomathematics (computational neuroscience), biophysics (bioelectromagnetism) and medicine (epileptology).The project vision is that critical features of pathological networks can be effectively captured in a new generation of hybrid computational models developed for tailored therapy. The inflection point is to prevent epileptic seizures from a bottom-up mechanistic understanding and control of tCS effects. This will entail a paradigm shift in epileptic disorders and beyond. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycomputational neuroscience Keywords Epilepsy therapeutic neuromodulation electric fields bioelectromagnetism neurophysiological models biophysical models personalized models signal processing optimization transcranial stimulation clinical trial Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-SyG - ERC Synergy Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-SyG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SyG - Synergy grant Host institution INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE Net EU contribution € 3 240 111,25 Address RUE DE TOLBIAC 101 75654 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations 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 Total cost € 3 368 631,25 Beneficiaries (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE France Net EU contribution € 3 240 111,25 Address RUE DE TOLBIAC 101 75654 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations 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 Total cost € 3 368 631,25 Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. UNIVERSITE DE RENNES France Net EU contribution € 128 520,00 Address 263 AVENUE DU GENERAL LECLERC 35042 RENNES See on map Region Bretagne Bretagne Ille-et-Vilaine Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 128 520,00 UNIVERSITE D'AIX MARSEILLE France Net EU contribution € 2 667 231,75 Address BOULEVARD CHARLES LIVON 58 LE PHARO 13284 Marseille See on map Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Bouches-du-Rhône Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 3 700 732,75 Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. CENTRE HOSPITALIER REGIONAL DE MARSEILLE ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE-HOPITAUX MARSEILLE France Net EU contribution € 1 033 501,00 Address RUE BROCHIER 80 13354 Marseille Cedex 20 See on map Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Bouches-du-Rhône Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 033 501,00 NEUROELECTRICS BARCELONA SL Spain Net EU contribution € 2 928 813,00 Address AV. TIBIDABO 47 BIS 08035 Barcelona See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 928 813,00
