Responsive Endovascular Neuromodulation: Detection And Suppression Of Epileptic Seizures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,487,455.00
Summary
For millions of people with epilepsy, seizures can be debilitating and dangerous. Medical devices approved for seizure prevention require risky open-brain surgery and traumatic electrode insertion. The Stentrode can record and stimulate the brain from within a blood vessel. By optimising it for delivery into small vessels, designing software to detect seizures, and conducting chronic safety studies, I will create a tool that can detect and suppress epileptic seizures without the surgical risk.
Preclinical Validation Of First In Man Endovascular Brain Machine Interface Device
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,000.00
Summary
The stentrode technology has been given significant public attention, following publication in the fourth highest impact factor journal 'Nature Biotechnology' and a public statement of endorsement by the President of the United States in 2016. The program now seeks to conduct a preclinical validation program to satisfy the FDA in its requirements to provide Investigational Device Exemption (IDE).
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is the principal cause of heart attack, stroke and blockage of blood flow to the lower limbs. However, to date none of the biological or synthetic grafts used to bypass the narrowed regions of arteries is ideal. We have shown that lengths of silicone tubing placed into the peritoneal cavity of rats or rabbits becomes covered within 2 weeks by a capsule of granulation tissue (smooth-muscle-like cells and collagen) and mesothelial (endothelial-like) cell ....Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is the principal cause of heart attack, stroke and blockage of blood flow to the lower limbs. However, to date none of the biological or synthetic grafts used to bypass the narrowed regions of arteries is ideal. We have shown that lengths of silicone tubing placed into the peritoneal cavity of rats or rabbits becomes covered within 2 weeks by a capsule of granulation tissue (smooth-muscle-like cells and collagen) and mesothelial (endothelial-like) cells. The silicone tubing can be removed and the tissue turned inside out such that the endothelial-like cells now line the inside of the tube of living tissue, which resembles a blood vessel. These artificial blood vessels will be grown in the peritoneal cavity of rabbits, then grafted into the right carotid artery to replace a length of removed vessel. Their long-term (3,6,9 and 12 months) patency, reactivity, tensile strength and resistance to clot development will be assessed. Their susceptibility to atherosclerotic plaque development and blockage (as compared with natural carotid artery) will be examined in rabbits fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. Changes in gene expression as the artificial artery progressively develops will be examined, as will the potential to genetically manipulate the artificial artery to improve its functioning. Finally, attempts will be made to grow the vessels entirely in vitro. This novel vascular graft may open new options in the field of arterial reconstructive surgery for replacing or bypassing diseased vessels or as an access vessel for haemodialysis patients with end stage renal failure. This study will also provide new information on the biology of cells found in the peritoneal cavity and their alternative pathways for differentiation.Read moreRead less
Safety And Efficacy Of A Surgically Implanted Suprachoroidal Retinal Prosthesis (Bionic Eye)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,233,826.00
Summary
A bionic eye is a electronic device which can stimulate the remaining visual pathway in a person who is blind, to restore some basic vision. Our team have previously shown that our novel bionic eye device can be safely implanted in a patient, and can give improvements in vision when tested in a laboratory environment. The next stage of the research is to provide patients with a more advanced device, which will contain more electrodes and also be able to be taken home.
Delivering Advanced Electrode Materials To The Clinic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$702,604.00
Summary
This research will develop improved electrodes for interfacing neural tissue by combining the expertise of materials scientists and electrophysiologists with medical bionics researchers. This work is expected to deliver improved bionic devices to the clinic in order to treat a variety of disorders from blindness to the control of motor tremor in Parkinson's disease.
A New Mouse Model That Determines The Effects Of A Unilateral Vestibular Prosthesis On Vestibular Plasticity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,678.00
Summary
Much like a cochlear implant restores auditory function, a vestibular prosthesis restores balance function. It is not clear whether the limited results from vestibular prostheses is due the device not stimulating one component (the otoliths) of the vestibular system essential for self-repair. We will test mutant mice that lack otoliths to determine the importance of stimulating the otoliths in restoring function. This work will shape the future direction of prosthesis development.