University of Glasgow researchers are to lead a new £4 million project which explores the potential of utilising “neurobots” to help treat epilepsy.

The project, dubbed NEUROBOT, is being funded by ARIA, an R&D funding agency launched to unlock technological breakthroughs. ARIA was created by an Act of Parliament and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

Over the next four years, 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 monitors brain activity and provides electrical stimulation to help treat epileptic seizures when they occur. Neuromodulation can also help seizures from happening at all.

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

This type of technology ultimately addresses the limitations of traditional deep brain stimulation and recording, which uses electrodes implanted in brain tissue and can disrupt 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, adaptive treatments that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Leading the project team will be Professor Hadi Heidari of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering. NEUROBITE Technologies, a spinout from the University of Glasgow by PhD student Maria Cerezo-Sanchez, is also lending support to the project, as is partners at the Universities of Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle, and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Italy.

Speaking on the project, Professor Heidari said: “We’re pleased and proud to have received this funding from ARIA’s Precision Neurotechnologies programme. It will enable us to build on previous breakthrough research collaborations between the partners on the potential for neurobots to treat epilepsy more effectively and less invasively.

“The project will benefit from access to the University of Glasgow’s world-leading James Watt Nanofabrication Centre to develop our prototype neurobots.

Recommended reading

• Edinburgh Trial Uses New Ultrasound Tech to Detect Prostate Cancer
• How Many Lives Could Aberdeen Uni’s Skin Cancer App Potentially Save?
• One in Five GPs Use Generative AI

“Our team comprises experts from a diverse range of fields, including nanotechnology, neurobiology, and biomedical engineering, with backgrounds in developing advanced microelectronics, neuromodulation techniques, and biocompatible materials.

“Each partner brings unique expertise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the NEUROBOT project and enhancing our capacity for successful research and development in precision neuromodulation therapies.”