Neurobots could help treat epilepsy

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Epilepsy could be treated in future by so-called neurobots being developed at Glasgow University in a £4m project funded by ARIA.

In the UK, one in six people – 16.5 million individuals – has at least one neurological condition, with a cost to the NHS of £4.4bn per year
In the UK, one in six people – 16.5 million individuals – has at least one neurological condition, with a cost to the NHS of £4.4bn per year - AdobeStock

Project NEUROBOT is one of 18 sharing £69m over four years in new funding announced yesterday (January 20, 225) from ARIA’s Precision Neurotechnologies programme.

The NEUROBOT team will work to develop advanced, injectable neural robots, or ‘neurobots’, to deliver a treatment called closed-loop neuromodulation as an epilepsy treatment.

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.

Made from advanced nanomaterials, the neurobots will provide precisely-targeted neural stimulation, as well as deliver drugs to patients through newly-developed bioactive coatings and encapsulants.

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This technology is claimed to address 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.

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treatment of neurological conditions