UK research centre to develop neural stimulation devices

The MRC CoRE in Restorative Neural Dynamics will receive up to £50m over 14 years to help fund the development of brain stimulation devices.

The centre team will investigate neural dynamics, which are complex and changing patterns of activity across networks of nerve cells in the brain that underlie behaviour. They will study how neural dynamics arise in health and are disturbed in brain disorders.

This will enable the researchers to develop novel interventions and devices – ranging from brain implants to non-invasive and wearable devices – that could improve how the brain and body functions.

In a statement, Professor Patrick Chinnery, MRC executive chair, said: “This new centre aims to forge pathways to exploit the powerful potential of brain stimulation devices to restore interactions between nerve cells for patient benefit across a range of brain disorders.

“The MRC’s CoRE funding model aims to revolutionise approaches to the treatment of brain disorders by bringing together the very best researchers, across different fields including neuroscientists, engineers and translational experts from industry, to tackle this challenge.”