The European research project META-BRAIN, which is developing innovative technologies for precise brain modulation, will now continue until 30 April 2027, four months beyond its originally scheduled completion date. The extension, which does not involve additional funding, has recently been approved by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), the European Commission's executive agency responsible for funding the project.
META-BRAIN is investigating how magnetoelectric nanoparticles and ultrasound can be used to modulate brain activity with greater precision and less invasive approaches, exploring their potential for future applications in neurological conditions such as stroke, epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
The extension follows a longer-than-anticipated administrative process to formalise the inclusion of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING). Its incorporation was made possible through a European funding mechanism that allows research institutions from countries with lower research and innovation performance to join ongoing projects. Although CING's participation was approved in January 2025, the corresponding amendment was not signed until May 2025.
The time required to complete this process affected the planned start of certain research activities involving the new partner. The extension will allow the consortium to complete this work under a revised schedule while maintaining the project's original objectives and budget.
Completing the planned research and validation activities
The revised timeline will particularly benefit the development and validation of multiscale computational models led by CING. These models investigate how magnetoelectric nanoparticles and ultrasound stimulation influence neuronal activity across different biological scales, from individual cells to interconnected brain networks.
By combining computational predictions with experimental observations, researchers aim to better understand how stimulation affects individual neurons and propagates through neural networks. This knowledge will help optimise future neuromodulation strategies and support the development of more precise, targeted approaches for the treatment of neurological disorders.
També et poliria aquesta segona part perquè soni més periodística i fluida, evitant algunes repeticions i frases massa llargues:
The extension will also support the completion of experimental and technological activities, including the integration and validation of stimulation and recording systems, further investigations into cortical activity modulation in vitro and in vivo, and biocompatibility studies.
These developments contribute to META-BRAIN's objective of creating a closed-loop system capable of monitoring brain activity and automatically adjusting stimulation parameters in response. Such a system could enable more targeted, personalised and adaptable neuromodulation approaches in the future.
Scientific progress and next steps
Since January 2024, META-BRAIN has made significant progress in the development of magnetoelectric nanoparticles, ultrasound-based stimulation technologies, advanced brain recording systems and computational modelling, alongside extensive experimental investigations in vitro and in vivo.
Researchers such as the ones integrating the Systems neuroscience IDIBAPS Group, lead by Maria V. Sanchez-Vives, have demonstrated that magnetoelectric nanoparticles can modulate cortical network activity in vitro using low-intensity static magnetic fields, significantly increasing neuronal firing rates and the frequency of slow oscillations. In parallel, another study developed a multiscale computational framework predicting that these nanoparticles can amplify electric fields in brain tissue to levels potentially sufficient for neural stimulation, even under relatively weak magnetic fields.
These findings, together with other project results, have been featured in a special issue of the prestigious scientific journal Advanced Science.
To date, META-BRAIN has produced 15 scientific publications, while consortium researchers have presented their work at major international scientific events, including the FENS Forum 2026, one of Europe's leading neuroscience conferences, where seven project contributions were showcased. The extension will provide additional opportunities to disseminate the project's findings through scientific conferences, publications and other international events.
META-BRAIN: A European research collaboration
META-BRAIN (MagnetoElectric and Ultrasonic Technology for Advanced BRAIN Modulation) has received nearly €3.5 million in funding from the European Union through the EIC Pathfinder programme under Horizon Europe.
Launched in January 2024, the project brings together leading research institutions, clinical experts and technology companies with complementary expertise in neuroscience, nanotechnology, microelectronics, computational modelling and brain interface technologies. It is coordinated by the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), with the participation of Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) through its Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni (CNR-IEIIT) and Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), g.tec medical engineering, ETH Zurich, the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), and Zabala Innovation.
