Brain function is regulated by molecular signaling and metabolism, however, our ability to track neurometabolic transformations deep in the brain is very underdeveloped compared to the central role of neurometabolism in neurodegenerative disease or brain function in general.
The goal of this proposal is to combine the power of the NEURON mathematical modeling software with the Cybercyte “plug and play” dynamic clamp system. Our product will enable all neuronal electrophysiologists to be able to perform sophisticated NEURON model based dynamic clamp experiments, without any requirement for programming, engineering, or mathematical modeling skills.
This project aims to develop the 2P-ActivityScope™, a revolutionary new microscope based on a technological breakthrough called second-generation Scanned Line Angular Projection (SLAP2) two photon laser scanning microscopy that was recently developed by Dr. Kaspar Podgorski (Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA).
Understanding the brain is a profound and fascinating challenge, captivating the scientific community and the public alike. The lack of effective treatment for most brain disorders makes training the next generation of neuroscientists, engineers and physicians a key concern. However, much neuroscience is perceived to be too difficult to be taught in school. To make neuroscience accessible and engaging to students and teachers, Backyard Brains is developing SpikerBots: fun and affordable robots that look like brains and are controlled by computer simulations of biological brains.
A fundamental goal of the BRAIN Initiative and other neuroscience projects is to map cell types in the brain and study their changes associated with function, disease, and drug treatment.
PROJECT SUMMARY Patients with refractory chronic pain typically do not respond to traditional analgesics or weak opioids as these agents do not directly address the cause for their pain. Many chronic pain patients do not achieve satisfactory pain relief even with evidence-based treatment, or they do not tolerate effective doses because of adverse side effects.
Cognitive decline begins in early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and progresses to dementia in 75% of people with PD after ten years. Dopaminergic medication and deep brain stimulation (DBS) provide long-term improvement of cardinal motor symptoms in PD, but cognitive decline remains largely unaddressed and untreated, despite a long window for potential intervention before dementia occurs.
SUMMARY Motivation: In the US, almost 800’000 people have a stroke every year. Unfortunately, despite intense physio- therapy stroke survivors retain permanent arm motor deficits, some complete hemiparesis.
PROJECT SUMMARY Many pain syndromes are notoriously refractory to almost all treatment and pose significant costs to patients and society. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for refractory pain disorders showed early promise but demonstration of long-term efficacy is lacking. Current DBS devices provide “open-loop” continuous stimulation and thus are prone to loss of effect owing to nervous system adaptation and a failure to accommodate natural fluctuations in chronic pain states.
Project Abstract Essential Tremor (ET) is a progressive disease that leads to significant disability and markedly diminished quality of life. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the ventralis intermedius (VIM) thalamus has been an effective treatment for ET control, but is associated with problematic side effects (e.g. dysarthia, imbalance) and may lose efficacy over time in people with severe ET. The ability to improve tremor control and reduce side effects with multifocal, current steering DBS techniques will be an important advance to the field.
