Precision Neurotechnologies
Backed by £69m, this programme within the Scalable Neural Interfaces opportunity space aims to unlock new methods to interface with the human brain at the circuit level, with unprecedented precision.
Our goal
To unite the frontiers of engineered biology + hardware to treat many of the complex and devastating brain disorders affecting individuals and communities worldwide.
Why this programme
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders have enormous social and economic impacts. In the UK, one in six people has at least one neurological condition, with a cost to the NHS of £4.4 billion per year. These disorders go far beyond issues with movement and motor skills; they include Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, addiction, and depression. Many of these are neural circuit-level disorders, or problems with the ‘wiring’ of the brain, but current technologies lack the requisite precision and most are highly invasive.
What we’re shooting for
We're seeking to develop next-generation precision neurotechnologies that can interface with the human brain at the circuit level, with cell type specificity across distributed brain regions. Armed with a deeper understanding of the brain today than ever before, we can leverage advances in brain-computer interfaces, AI, computational power, and gene therapies to achieve more precise and effective treatments for brain disorders. This will unlock the full potential of neurotechnology, alleviate bottlenecks, and move closer to a world in which personalised brain health care is available to everyone.
"I'm excited to be funding a portfolio of teams who can prove it’s possible to develop elegant means of understanding, identifying, and treating many of the most complex and devastating brain disorders. Ultimately, this could deliver transformative impact for people with lived experiences."
Pillars
This programme is split into four pillars, each with its own distinct objectives.
Non-invasive Interfaces
Developing cutting-edge technologies to read and modulate brain activity through electrical and acoustic fields, without direct brain contact.
Remote Interfaces
Enhancing the interaction of external fields with the brain, either via biological modification of the brain or microscopic brain implants.
Biological Interfaces
Pioneering the use of engineered cells as 'living' interfaces to repair damaged neural pathways and develop innovative approaches for long-term, circuit-level brain interfacing.
Future Adoption
Exploring how neurotechnologies can be designed inclusively, recognising the importance of engaging clinicians and people with lived experiences of brain disorders for greater, more equitable adoption of future tech.
Meet the programme team
Our Programme Directors are supported by a Programme Specialist (P-Spec) and Technical Specialist (T-Spec); this is the nucleus of each programme team. P-Specs co-ordinate and oversee the project management of their respective programmes, whilst T-Specs provide highly specialised and targeted technical expertise to support programmatic rigour.
Jacques Carolan
Programme Director
Jacques is an applied physicist and neuroscientist. Prior to joining ARIA as a founding Programme Director, he was a Discovery Fellow at UCL and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at MIT. Jacques’ work involves applying the principles of physics and engineering to create next-generation, scalable tools that aim to radically change our understanding of the brain and ultimately be used to repair it.
Anusha Rajamani
Programme Specialist
Anusha has a background in international development and public health, with experience managing complex programmes across government and multilateral sectors. She has worked on global health, climate, and health systems initiatives internationally and offers expertise in strategy, partnerships, and programme delivery. Anusha supports ARIA as an Operating Partner from Pace.
Gillian Koehl
Technical Specialist
Gillian, a bioengineer, is passionate about advancing health through neurotechnology. She brings expertise in neuromodulation product development and biomaterials from her time at Blackrock Neurotechnology and Imperial College London.
Featured insights
Brain implant that could boost mood by using ultrasound to go under NHS trial
The Guardian
"A groundbreaking NHS trial aims to enhance patients' moods using a brain-computer interface (BCI) that employs ultrasound to directly modify brain activity. The device, designed for implantation beneath the skull but outside the brain, maps neural activity and delivers targeted ultrasound pulses to activate specific neuron clusters. Its safety and tolerability will be evaluated in approximately 30 patients during the £6.5 million trial, funded by the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria)."
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Programme Directors
Our Programme Directors are exceptional scientists and engineers with the curiosity to explore uncharted territory.
How we work
We seek out exceptional scientists and engineers and empower them with the resources and autonomy to turn their ideas into reality.