Project description DEENESFRITPL Beyond cellular assays: a hybrid drug discovery tool The battery of medications for treating neurological diseases is rather limited mainly due to the lack of drug screening models that faithfully recapitulate brain physiology. The EU-funded NEUREKA project has developed a disruptive system that combines computational networks with cultured neurons to model brain diseases. Researchers use nanoelectrodes to control neuronal activity and simulate pathology-related dysfunctions as seen for example in Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, the technology provides the native brain signals normally absent in cultured neurons, thereby supporting neural circuits in vitro. NEUREKA offers a unique drug screening approach that goes beyond the state of the art and is expected to facilitate the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals against neurological diseases. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective NEUREKA will bring a paradigm shift in drug discovery for neurological diseases, a sector that suffers multiple, repeated failures exacerbating the economical and societal burden of these incurable diseases. It will do so by addressing a crucial shortcoming: the lack of in vitro systems faithfully reproducing brain pathology that enable the functional assessment of candidate compounds at multiple levels: from synapses to neuronal circuits. NEUREKA introduces an innovative, hybrid technology, whereby detailed, computational neuronal networks simulate dysfunction and drive cultured neurons to replicate in-brain disease conditions. Nanoelectrodes mediate the transmission between simulated and biological neurons. Akin to real synapses, nanoelectrodes contact cultured neurons at subcellular locations across the dendritic tree, soma and axonal branches, allowing to control and monitor neural activity with unprecedented accuracy. Biological neuronal responses registered by nanoelectrodes are fed back to simulated neurons, closing the loop and enabling control of activity states across the hybrid population. Complementing molecular deficits already present in culture models of a disease, computational models enable replication of both molecular and physiological deficits of neurodegeneration in vitro. Cultured neurons are driven towards pathological excitability states where deficits emerge, so as to optimize quantification of the impact of drugs, going well beyond standard cellular assays. A proof-of-concept will be provided for Alzheimer’s disease, using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons exhibiting the pathology. NEUREKA will be used to demonstrate the effect of drug candidates across synaptic, neuronal and network functions. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologydementiaalzheimermedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathology Keywords neuroelectronics cell cultures brain simulation Alzheimer's Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Main Programme H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open Topic(s) FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 - FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking Call for proposal H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01 Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS Net EU contribution € 753 250,00 Address N PLASTIRA STR 100 70013 Irakleio Greece See on map Region Νησιά Αιγαίου Κρήτη Ηράκλειο 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 € 753 250,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA Italy Net EU contribution € 465 440,00 Address VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2 35122 Padova See on map Region Nord-Est Veneto Padova 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 Total cost € 465 440,00 CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 756 452,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 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 € 756 452,50 UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA Italy Net EU contribution € 335 000,00 Address PIAZZA DELL'ATENEO NUOVO 1 20126 MILANO See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano 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 Total cost € 335 000,00 MAXWELL BIOSYSTEMS AG Switzerland Net EU contribution € 466 562,00 Address ALBISRIEDERSTRASSE 253 8047 Zurich 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 Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich 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 € 466 562,50
