Glasgow scientists are to lead on a £4 million research project to develop a treatment for epilepsy using injectable neural robots.
The so-called ‘neurobots’ are microscopic robots made of nano-materials that can perform tasks including dispensing drugs or triggering electrical stimulation within the brain.
Over the next four years, the NEUROBOT team at Glasgow University will work to develop a treatment called closed-loop neuromodulation for epilepsy.
Closed-loop neuromodulation works by closely monitoring brain activity and providing electrical stimulation when required to help treat epileptic seizures as they occur, or prevent them from happening at all.
The neurobots, which will be made from advanced nanomaterials, will provide precisely-targeted neural stimulation, as well as deliver drugs to patients through newly-developed bioactive coatings and encapsulants.
This technology addresses the limitations of traditional deep brain recording and stimulation using electrodes implanted in brain tissue, which can disrupt normal brain function and cause side effects.
The team’s broader vision is to revolutionise neuromodulation therapies by using innovative materials and AI-driven control to create individualised, minimally-invasive adaptive treatments that enhance therapeutic outcomes, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients with neurological disorders.
The project is one of 18 which will share in £69m over four years in new funding announced today from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) ‘Precision ‘Neurotechnologies’ programme. ARIA was set up in 2021 and has a similar remit to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
ARIA, an R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone, was created by an Act of Parliament and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. ARIA funds teams of scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of what is scientifically and technologically possible.
Professor Hadi Heidari, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, will lead the project, with support from partners at the Universities of Exeter, Manchester and Newcastle in the UK and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Italy. NEUROBITE Technologies, a startup spun out from the University of Glasgow by PhD student Maria Cerezo-Sanchez, is also lending support to the project.
Professor Heidari is also a key partner in the European EIC Pathfinder CROSSBRAIN project, which uses advanced implantable methods to treat brain disorders.
Professor Heidari said: “We’re pleased and proud to have received this funding from ARIA’s Precision Neurotechnologies programme. It will enable us to build on previous breakthrough research collaborations between the partners on the potential for neurobots to treat epilepsy more effectively and less invasively. The project will benefit from access to the University of Glasgow’s world-leading James Watt Nanofabrication Centre to develop our prototype neurobots.
“Our team comprises experts from a diverse range of fields, including nanotechnology, neurobiology, and biomedical engineering, with backgrounds in developing advanced microelectronics, neuromodulation techniques, and biocompatible materials. Each partner brings unique expertise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the NEUROBOT project and enhancing our capacity for successful research and development in precision neuromodulation therapies.”
