CROSSBRAIN
CROSSBRAIN: Distributed and federated cross-modality actuation through advanced nanomaterials and neuromorphic learning, PI Glasgow (€4M), HORIZON-EIC-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES, 2022-26.
KEY STAFF AND PROJECT TEAM
Professor Hadi Heidari is the project’s PI for Glasgow. Dr Mahdieh Shojaei Baghini is Researcher / Co-Investigator. Laura Maldon Mazon Maldonado, a final year doctoral student, also takes a lead role in the project’s research.
PROJECT SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW
A vast number of pathological brain conditions directly involve aberrant electrical activity of the brain. CROSSBRAIN centres its technological revolution on the convergence of novel nanoactuation modalities, bleeding-edge nano-electronics, and miniaturized wireless energy harvesting and communication. Combining extreme edge computing with advanced nanomaterials featuring tailored physical properties, biocompatible coatings, and material modifications to prevent glial scarring, CROSSBRAIN will enable individualized, adaptive and highly spatiotemporally localized actuation of brain tissue. It will leverage sensing electric local field potentials, multiunit neuronal activity, and cross-modal nanomaterial-based modulation (electrical, mechanical, thermal, ionic concentration, optogenetics) of neuronal excitability with on-board intelligence.
The CROSSBRAIN platform comprises a swarm of wireless, implantable, MRI-compatible microbots for in vivo electrophysiology and cross-modal neuromodulation at the cell- and microcircuit levels, in freely moving rodents. It delivers a multiplicity of stimulation modalities, involving electro-mechano-magneto-thermo-optical principles for modulation of nerve cell excitability. The microbots will feature both sensing and actuation electrodes, engineered with nanomaterials and viral vectors coatings. They will be implanted endovascularly, deliver genetic material upon command, and operate in federation under the networked control and wireless power supply by a tiny central unit, which can be worn like an internet of things device. CROSSBRAIN will deliver autonomous or manual, closed-loop sensing, prediction, and actuation through combining multiple neuromodulation mechanisms, which will act in a synergistic and dynamic manner to optimally shape stimulation according to individual neuronal firing patterns or clinician’s needs. As case studies, we will explore CROSSBRAIN action in animal models of Parkinson’s Disease and Epilepsy.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Specific objectives of the project are to:
1 – Develop advanced functional materials for interfacing neurons, aiming at temporally and spatially precise neurostimulation by novel physical and chemical principles.
2 – Design and microfabricate the device platform (microbot and neuromorphic controller), integrating multiple nanoactuators with all other elements of the CROSSBRAIN device.
3 – Design and nanofabricate a novel AI-based controller, able to wirelessly exchange information among implanted microbots and to orchestrate federated stimulation by multiple physical modalities. Multilevel optimisation and demonstration of the CROSSBRAIN platform.
The developments CROSSBRAIN targets are all deeply rooted in unmet clinical needs. CROSSBRAIN strives to eliminate highly invasive implants by integrating its actuators into a nanoelectronics solution while revolutionising spatiotemporal specificity, flexibility of stimulation, ability to adapt both in real-time and in case of slow pathogenic drifts. It tackles current limitations head on, leveraging world-class expertise within an innovative but highly plausible methodology.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS
**The latest publication to arise from the project is Shojaei Baghini, M. et al. (2026). Bio-integrated µBots with overtone ultrawideband magnetoelectric antennas for wireless telemetry. Science Advances, 12 (27), eaec7011. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aec7011) (PMID:42384785) (PMCID:PMC13322252).**
Dr Madhieh Shojaei Baghini’s meLAB co-authors are: Dr. Dibyajyoti Mukherjee, Laura Mazon Maldonado, Dayhim Nekoeian, Dr. Carlos Garcia Nunez, and Prof. Hadi Heidari.
The many other publications associated with the project already are listed here: Publications – Crossbrain
Highlights from lead meLAB-based authors include:
Ge, Changhao, Masalehdan, Tahereh, Shojaei Baghini, Mahdieh, et al. (2024). Microfabrication technologies for nano-invasive and high-resolution magnetic neuromodulation. Advanced Science, 11(46), 2404254. (doi: 10.1002/advs.202404254) (PMID:39445520). Available at: Microfabrication Technologies for Nanoinvasive and High‐Resolution Magnetic Neuromodulation – Ge – 2024 – Advanced Science – Wiley Online Library
NEWS AND UPDATES
For the latest news and reports, see the dedicated project website at: News – Crossbrain
The project team recently completed their second technical review meeting successfully, reporting on progress across 8 work packages and with updates on technical developments including design, nanofabrication, empirical evaluation of efficacy, and impact across 9 areas (ranging from scientific to education, training, ethical and regulatory).
The reviewers were full of praise for progress to date.
PROJECT PARTNERS
The CROSSBRAIN consortium is highly interdisciplinary and deeply committed to excellence. It includes 9 partners from 5 European countries with a unique balance of world-class investigators and young researchers. CROSSBRAIN is committed to bringing innovation all the way from bench to bedside by taking on the challenge of designing radically new neuromodulation technologies based on novel physical principles.
PIs are Danijela Gregurec – FAU Michele Giugliano Stefan Slesazeck – NAMLAB Hadi Heidari – UGLA; Sergio Moya – CIC Nicola Toschi – UNITOV; Danijela Gregurec – FAU. Luca Berdondini – IIT. Bernabe Linares-Barranco – CSIC
