Development of an Implantable Nerve Neurotechnology for the Study and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain, affecting 7-10% of the population, significantly reduces quality of life. Current treatments often fail due to the challenges in translating findings from animal models to humans. Traditional models rely on controlled environments, hindering accurate assessment. Implantable neurotechnologies offer a solution by recording nerve activity in freely-moving animals, providing more realistic data. However, existing devices struggle with long-term recording and signal classification. Implantable neurotechnologies also show promise for directly treating neuropathic pain but lack specificity, inhibiting normal nerve function.
Graphpype: Producing Reproducible and Portable Neuroimaging Analysis Pipelines
The project’s central aim is producing a robust and reproducible methodology for network analysis in neuroscience. We are building an accessible toolset fully integrated with existing workflows that provides more intuitive use possibilities for conducting graph analysis of biological data. The project will translate graph theoretical quantification and statistical evaluation into an open and reproducible workflow for network analyses of biological systems.
Intelligence in a dish: Developing computational phenotypes for human cortical organoid models of neurodevelopmental disorders
In this project we propose a new class of neuroinformatic phenotypes which directly measure the computational properties of human cortical organoids, thereby promising to unlock their therapeutic potential. In particular, we piloted this approach in a human organoid model of Rett Syndrome - a severe neurodevelopmental disease marked by a regression in cognitive and behavioural functions that becomes apparent in infants during the first year of life. In over 95% of cases Rett Syndrome is caused by mutations in a single gene, called MECP2. However, despite the known genetic cause, there is currently no treatment which is able to prevent or slow the cognitive decline in development.
Pinging Hidden Working Memory Using Brain Stimulation and Precision Imaging
Imagine hosting a dinner party. Your mind is filled with tasks like buying ingredients, cooking, and awaiting guests' arrivals. Yet you only pay attention to one task at a time— be it boiling pasta or answering the doorbell. Your ability to “actively” hold and manipulate limited information against a broader “hidden” cognitive background is known as working memory (WM), a pivotal human cognitive function.