The UK's Answer to DARPA Wants to Rewire the Human Brain
8 hours ago
- #Research Funding
- #Brain Disorders
- #Neurotechnology
- ARIA, launched in 2023, is a UK agency focused on high-risk, high-reward research to tackle issues like food security and brain disorders with over £1 billion in funding.
- A £69 million program aims to develop precise neurotechnologies targeting brain circuitry, addressing conditions such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's by funding 19 teams exploring ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, and gene therapy.
- Ultrasound technologies are being developed to both modulate the brain and image gene expression in real-time, offering new insights into neurological malfunctions.
- Deep brain stimulation, initially for Parkinson's, shows promise as a platform technology for treating depression, addiction, and other intractable neurological disorders.
- ARIA's success may include unexpected benefits, similar to DARPA's investment in mRNA technology that led to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, with hopes for societal impact by the early 2030s.