Descrizione del progetto
Impianti neurali intelligenti per il trattamento dell’epilessia
La comprensione della funzione neuronale e della comunicazione nel cervello è fondamentale per definire i trattamenti contro i disturbi neurologici come l’epilessia. Il metodo di optogenetica recentemente sviluppato ha aperto la strada alla modulazione dell’attività neurale mediante la luce. Tuttavia, le difficoltà tecniche impediscono ancora lo sfruttamento della tecnica negli studi clinici per le malattie cerebrali. Il progetto WiseCure, finanziato dall’UE, si propone di sviluppare impianti neurali in polimeri flessibili biocompatibili che possono essere utilizzati per trattare l’epilessia con l’optogenetica. L’approccio offrirà la possibilità di monitorare e controllare in modalità wireless le attività neurali attraverso gli impianti, offrendo una soluzione sanitaria intelligente per il trattamento dell’epilessia.
Obiettivo
This WiseCure Fellowship aims to bring novel wireless, scalable, MRI-compatible, and bio-integrated neural implants for optogenetics to treat epilepsy. Neurological diseases such as epilepsy is a life-threatening progressive disorder causing uncontrolled activity of the brain (seizure). The ability to decipher brain functions and understand the neuronal communication networking properties to develop innovative solutions to treat neurological diseases remains one of the biggest challenges to date. A recent approach to study the brain is optogenetics. Optogenetics is a neural modulation technique which utilizes light to stimulate genetically engineered neurons, providing a better option for controlling the cells compared to conventional electrical stimulation. Scientists pursuing optogenetic therapies still face some technical challenges (e.g. size and multifunctional capability, biointegration, wireless capability, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatibility) that keeping optogenetics from clinical trials for brain diseases. I will combine the innovative wireless power transfer (WPT) approaches with ultrathin, soft and flexible biocompatible polymeric platforms to fabricate and characterize neural implants that are small enough to promote scalability, chronic reliability, and MRI compatibility. By associating the ability to wirelessly monitor (e.g. neural activities) and control (stimulation or inhibition) through these neural implants using a smartphone establishes a novel approach for versatile optogenetics to treat epilepsy. This Fellowship will act as a platform to realize my futuristic vision by integrating the wireless optogenetics system into smart healthcare using mobile and electronic technology for better diagnosis of the brain diseases, improved treatment of the patients, and enhanced quality of lives.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologyepilepsy
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imaging
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
G12 8QQ Glasgow
Regno Unito