Cell-based brain implants for Parkinson’s are in development
The research will be tested in animal models of the disease
Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. are developing brain implants using small clusters of lab-grown cells in combination with electrical impulses to rebuild brain circuits worn down in Parkinson’s disease.
“Our ultimate goal is to create precise brain therapies that can restore normal brain function in people with Parkinson’s,” George Malliaras, PhD, a professor of technology at Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, said in a university press release.
The research, which will be tested in animal models of Parkinson’s, is being funded by the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), the U.K. government’s new research and development funding agency, which is contributing £69 million (about $85 million) as part of its Precision Neurotechnologies program.
The research is being led by Malliaras and Roger Barker, PhD, from Cambridge’s Department of Clinical Neurosciences, who will work with researchers from the University of Oxford in the U.K., the University of Lund in Sweden, and the U.K.-based neural engineering company, BIOS Health.
Parkinson’s is caused by the gradual death of dopamine-producing nerve cells, or neurons, which leads to the development of motor and nonmotor symptoms. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that nerve cells use to communicate.
Current treatment options usually work well early on, but they can wear off or cause serious side effects over time. Replacing dopamine-producing neurons is a promising treatment alternative, but it can be difficult for implanted cells to blend into the brain’s neural network.
Restoring lost brain circuits
About 130,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the U.K., costing families an average of £16,000 (about $20,000) annually and the country’s economy more than £2 billion ($2.5 billion) each year, according to the university. These numbers are expected to rise as the population ages.
But “to date, there’s been little serious investment into methodologies that interface precisely with the human brain, beyond ‘brute force’ approaches or highly invasive implants,” said AIRA program director Jacques Carolan, PhD.
To overcome these obstacles, the researchers are developing midbrain organoids, small, three-dimensional clusters of cells closely resembling those found in the human midbrain, a critical area that connects the brain and spinal cord. The organoids are designed to integrate with the existing neural network.
Using rat models of Parkinson’s, the researchers will test how well the organoids can rebuild the nigrostriatal pathway, a circuit of dopamine-producing neurons that runs from the substantia nigra in the midbrain to the dorsal striatum, and that’s needed for motor control. This is expected to restore the circuit, which is lost to Parkinson’s.
“We’re showing that it’s possible to develop elegant means of understanding, identifying, and treating many of the most complex and devastating brain disorders. Ultimately, this could deliver transformative impact for people with lived experiences of brain disorders,” Carolan said.
The Precision Neurotechnologies program is funding 18 other teams that bring together academics, startups, and nonprofit organizations to develop tools that interact directly with the brain’s neural circuits in an effort to advance treatment in Parkinson’s and other brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and depression.
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