NeuPES · Inducing Neural Plasticity Using Electrical Stimulation Delivered by Nano-Structured Electrodes: A Critical Step Toward Post-Stroke Recovery
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-11-01 → 2020-10-31
- EU contribution
- €158,122
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Inducing Neural Plasticity Using Electrical Stimulation Delivered by Nano-Structured Electrodes: A Critical Step Toward Post-Stroke Recovery
Stroke is the second leading cause of disability in Europe at an annual cost of 64.1 b€. Each year, at least 5 million people are permanently disabled. Unlike many diseases, stroke treatment does not have a clear clinical pathway and an obvious or predictable end point. Currently, treatments for acute stroke within a short time window (4 h) include endovascular therapies. After the acute time period, intensive physical rehabilitation is the only primary current therapy. We believe that there is an alternative solution. Electrical stimulation (ES) of the brain was established more than 50 years ago for pain management and recentlyit has been studied for inducing “plastic changes” (reconnection of the neurons in the brain) to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are investigating if they can use ES to manage the neural damages after stroke. However, there are large knowledge gaps in this area. For example, ES protocols for recovering neural function after stroke have not been tried properly and need to be optimized. Moreover, there is no creditable in vitro (or outside of the body) platform to study ES protocols and their corresponding effects on the neural tissues. NeuPES was a multidisciplinary project that had three main objectives to explore the use of ES for managing recovery after stroke; (i) Development of effective nano-structured electrodes to improve the electrical properties; (ii) Integration of the nano-structured electrodes to the electro-bioreactor, to develop a research tool; (iii) Optimization of electrical stimulation parameters and study the effect of different ES regimes on the neural plasticity in vitro.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The main objective of NeuPES is to advance our understanding of the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on neural plasticity using nanostructured electrodes. The motivation is to develop an effective therapeutic approach that minimizes neural damage and enhances recovery following brain ischemia. Stroke is a second leading cause of disability in Europe. Moreover, stroke treatment does not have a clear clinical pathway with a predictable end point. Acute strokes are treated within a narrow window of time after the ischemic insult by means of endovascular therapies. After the acute period, intensive physical rehabilitation of the affected anatomical region is the primary current therapy. ES of the brain for therapeutic purposes was established more than 50 years ago, and it constitutes a smart approach for inducing neural recovery after stroke. However, there are still large knowledge gaps about the electrode material/design, effective ES regimes, and the underlying mechanisms by which ES triggers different pathways to induce neural plasticity. This project will address these important challenges by bringing together a multidisciplinary team that includes experts in nano-material science, biomedical engineering and neuronal biology. We propose three objectives: (i) fabrication of nano-structured electrodes that maximize the charge injection capacity by increasing the surface area and improve the biocompatibility; (ii) integration of these electrodes to the electro-bioreactor, an in vitro ES setup recently developed by the Researcher with great flexibility to apply different patterns of electrical signals; (iii) use of the electro-bioreactor to explore the effects of different ES regimes on neural plasticity and recovery and investigate the underlying mechanisms to optimize the ES parameters. The multidisciplinary skills acquired during the project will significantly enhance the future career prospects of the Applicant.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union