Gravitation grant Brain Interface Initiative (DBI2) awarded
The DBI2 proposal has been awarded a total funding of 21.9 million euros to conduct 10-year-long scientific research in brain-machine interfaces, as part of the Gravitation program.
The mission of DBI2 is the fostering of a novel, integrated approach to brain-machine interfaces. Interfacing with the brain is essential to understand it inner properties and its interaction with the outside world and to develop advanced prosthetic or therapies against a number of brain related ailments. DBI2 will develop principles and devices to improve therapeutic strategies for brain disorders, and disorders affecting sensory and emotion systems and cause compulsions.
DBI2 comprises a consortium driven by 6 top researchers from leading Dutch research institutes (Radboud University, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Delft University of Technology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Erasmus Medical Center), complemented by 23 experts in the fields of neuroscience, neuroengineering, and computational sciences. Chair professor Chris de Zeeuw of the Erasmus MC Neuroscience department is among the 6 co-applicants and is joined by department co-applicants, dr. Christos Strydis and dr. Devika Narain. The Neuroscience-department labs partaking in this effort are the Circuit dynamics of temporal control and the Neurocomputing Lab, which demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of DBI2.
DBI2 has been funded under the NWO Gravitation Program. The Gravitation program enables researchers to carry out top-level university research and multidisciplinary cooperation for ten years. One of the cornerstones of the program is cooperation across disciplines and universities. The scientists set up excellent scientific research programs together in consortia. The purpose of Gravitation is to encourage research programs to achieve international breakthroughs.
