May 27, 2014

Journey of Discovery Starts toward Understanding and Treating Networks of the Brain


(Artist Concept) The research team led by Massachusetts General Hospital will use
a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf electrodes and custom technology developed
by Draper Labs to create novel systems. The proposed design will focus on an
ultra-low-profile, hermetically sealed interface device capable of being recharged through
inductive coupling. (Image courtesy of Massachusetts General Hospital and Draper Labs)

(May 27, 2014)  SUBNETS program includes two complementary research pathways that emphasize neural plasticity and single-neuron recording.

Work on DARPA’s Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies (SUBNETS) program is set to begin with teams led by UC San Francisco (UCSF), and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The SUBNETS program seeks to reduce the severity of neuropsychological illness in service members and veterans by developing closed-loop therapies that incorporate recording and analysis of brain activity with near-real-time neural stimulation. The program, which will use next-generation devices inspired by current Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) technology, was launched in support of President Obama’s brain initiative.

In this artist’s concept, a miniature electronic device placed between a patient's skull
and scalp would serve as an interface between a series of electrodes placed at varying
depths in different regions of the brain and a clinician who could wirelessly review neurological
data recorded by the electrodes and communicate with the device to prescribe tailored therapies.
Photos on either side show a sampling of existing devices that could serve as inspiration
or building blocks for SUBNETS technologies. DARPA will evaluate multiple designs from
both performer teams over the course of the program.
(Image courtesy of Massachusetts General Hospital and Draper Labs)

UCSF and MGH will oversee teams of physicians, engineers, and neuroscientists who are working together to develop advanced brain interfaces, computational models of neural activity, and clinical therapies for treating networks of the brain. The teams will collaborate with commercial industry and government, including researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Medtronic, to apply a broad range of perspectives to the technological challenges involved.

SUBNETS is premised on the understanding that brain function—and  dysfunction, in the case of neuropsychological illness—plays out across distributed neural systems, as opposed to being strictly relegated to distinct anatomical regions of the brain. The program also aims to take advantage of neural plasticity, a feature of the brain by which the organ’s anatomy and physiology can alter over time to support normal brain function. Plasticity runs counter to previously held ideas that the adult brain is a “finished” entity that can be statically mapped. Because of plasticity, researchers are optimistic that the brain can be trained or treated to restore normal functionality following injury or the onset of neuropsychological illness.   

DARPA’s SUBNETS program seeks new neurotechnology for analyzing neuronal
activity across sub-networks of the brain to enable next-generation therapies
tailored to individual patients. (DARPA image)

“The brain is very different from all other organs because of its networking and adaptability,” said Justin Sanchez, the DARPA program manager for SUBNETS. “Real-time, closed-loop neural interfaces allow us to move beyond the traditional static view of the brain and into a realm of precision therapy. This lack of understanding of how mental illness specifically manifests in the brain has limited the effectiveness of existing treatment options, but through SUBNETS we hope to change that. DARPA is looking for ways to characterize which regions come into play for different conditions—measured from brain networks down to the single neuron level—and develop therapeutic devices that can record activity, deliver targeted stimulation, and most importantly, automatically adjust therapy as the brain itself changes. The research teams we selected for SUBNETS will pursue bold approaches to reach those goals and we’re excited to get started because this research could prove to be transformative for people with mental illness.”





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