EU funding: So that children can grasp the world again
European Research Council funds pioneering FAU project in the field of neuromechatronics
Children who can no longer move their hands, for example, after suffering a stroke early in life: If the scientists at the Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing Laboratory (N-squared Lab) at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have their way, such limitations will soon be a thing of the past. As part of the ‘PlayAgain’ project, Prof. Dr. Alessandro Del Vecchio’s research group aims to develop a neural interface that can strengthen or restore connections from the brain to the forearm muscles of the paralyzed hand. The FAU team has now received funding of 150,000 euros from the European Research Council (ERC).
The funding is an important step for the team led by neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Alessandro Del Vecchio on the way to helping children (and adults) to be able to move and grasp with an impaired hand again. It builds on the basic research of the N-squared Lab at FAU’s Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering in the field of neuromuscular physiology, which has also already received an ERC award. The working group there is dedicated to the question of how the brain controls muscles and is investigating sensorimotor interfaces for paralyzed people.
“The current funding is about testing our basic research for a possible application in children,” explains Prof. Dr. Alessandro Del Vecchio, N-squared Lab Director and project manager of ‘PlayAgain’.
The great hope is that children will be able to play with their paralyzed hand again and later be able to hold a pencil and carry out everyday tasks at school, for example. In short, they will significantly improve their quality of life.
If the 18-month project, which is expected to start in the summer, is successful, further funding in the millions will be available. For Prof. Dr. Alessandro Del Vecchio, this is just one reason why “PlayAgain” is particularly appealing: “There’s nothing better than seeing that you can directly help people with your research. When it involves children who still have their whole lives ahead of them, it’s particularly moving.”
The principle
Sensors attached to the arms measure the remaining signals between the brain and muscles. A brain-computer interface uses AI to decode the recorded signals in order to derive the person’s intention to move. These are passed on to an exoskeleton in the form of a glove. Being able to make children grasp the world again in this way is a particular incentive for the scientists and at the same time proof once again of what FAU can achieve with its expertise as a location for innovation in artificial intelligence in medicine.
Further information:
Project management
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Del Vecchio
Professor for Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing
Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing Laboratory (N-squared Lab)
+49-9131-85-70940
alessandro.del.vecchio@fau.de
Dominik Braun
Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing Laboratory (N-squared Lab)
Tel. 09131 85-71375
dome.braun@fau.de