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Subcellular Wireless Axons for in vivo Localized Neuronal Excitation

Award Number: R01NS105691
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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Subcellular Wireless Axons for in vivo Localized Neuronal Excitation - Project Summary This BRG R01 (PAR-16-242) application aims to greatly improved spatial and temporal resolution: Penetrating electrical stimulation arrays are a crucial component of basic neuroscience research and human neuroprosthetics. A challenge with this technology is achieving a highly localized stimulated area of the same neurons over weeks and months. However, implantation of cortical microelectrodes causes a reactive tissue response, which results in a degradation of the preferred functional performance over time, thus limiting the device capabilities. Current electrical stimulation implants are tethered to the skull, which chronically increases the impact of mechanical mismatch, causes neural degeneration around the implant, increases the chance of infection, increases the chance of mechanical trauma induced failure as well as shifting of the electrode position, and increases in electrical impedances from glial scarring. In turn, the electrical stimulation loses its effectiveness to excite neural tissue, making longevity a challenge. Simply increasing the electrical current to compensate can lead to permenant damage to the tissue and/or the electrode. This proposal proves an innovative strategy that uses leading-edge biocompatible materials to develop innovative “Wireless Axon” electrodes that are ultra-small and untethered, with bioactive surfaces and nanostructured materials for enhanced signal transduction to electrically excitable tissue. The project aims to decouple the mechanical requirements necessary in traditional microstimulation technology and improve spatial selectivity of activated neurons for stable long-term electrical stimulation. The guiding hypothesis is that decoupling the mechanical tether will improve tissue integration, while immobilized biomolecules will effectively intervene with the reactive tissue response as well as improve electrode-neuron signal-coupling and selectivity. This project is likely to make significant contributions through developing advanced neural probes for long- term (permanent), high quality, and selective neural stimulation. These could potentially lead to paradigm shifts in both neuroscience research and clinical neuroprosthetics and neurostimulation through creating the capability of activating specific neurons for long periods of time with great precision. Our guiding hypothesis is that the product of the combined benefit is synergistic and greater than the sum of its parts. The outcomes of this project are also likely to establish new biologically inspired paradigms for creating long-lasting, high-fidelity neural interfaces with biomimetic materials as well as new paradigms for longitudinally probing neural circuits, particularly for the study of learning and plasticity. Several variations of the technology developed in this project is expected to be compatible with optogenetics. This project would impact both the neuroscience research community, and clinical scientists (neurosurgeons, neurologists, and patients) that use and benefit from neuroprosthetic- and neurostimulation-based treatments interventions.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $706,235 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	7	2/26/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$706,235
2026	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	5	7/30/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $706,235

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $743,480 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	6	3/18/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$743,480
														Subtotal = $743,480

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $321,227 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	5	5/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$23,181
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	5	11/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$298,046
														Subtotal = $321,227

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $331,162 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	4	1/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,116
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	4	12/10/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$298,046
														Subtotal = $331,162

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $331,162 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE	4200 5TH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	3	3/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,117
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE	4200 5TH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	12/6/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$298,045
														Subtotal = $331,162

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $331,162 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE	3520 FIFTH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	11/23/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$298,045
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE	3520 FIFTH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	2/5/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,117
														Subtotal = $331,162

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $328,196 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE	3520 FIFTH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	12/12/2019	NEW	$328,196
														Subtotal = $328,196

Grand Total All Awards = $3,092,624

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Subcellular Wireless Axons for in vivo Localized Neuronal Excitation

Award Number: R01NS105691

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/15/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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