EnterBio · Enteric Bioelectronics for Sensing and Stimulating the CNS

Therapies for neurological disorders often involve deeply invasive brain operations or implants. A largely overlooked aspect of these conditions is the high comorbidity of GI-related disorders. Although the top-down relationship between the brain and peripheral organs has dominated the field, it’s now clear that activity of peripheral organs, in particular GI innervation – the enteric nervous system (ENS) – not only influences brain activity, but also paces and regulates it. Indeed, recent studies have shown the bidirectional relationship between gut homeostasis and neurological function in disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.EnterBio will adapt bioelectronic tools developed over the past decades for application in the CNS for sensing and stimulating the ENS, and thereby sensing and stimulating the CNS. The team comprises world-leading expertise in organic and graphene bioelectronics, drug delivery, in vitro/animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, and molecular/ cellular physiology of the PNS. We propose to turn this expertise toward the ENS to develop a platform for elucidation, prediction, and control of CNS function. Objectives are to:– Develop bioelectronic sensors, stim. electrodes, and drug deliv. targeting ENS and adapted for implantation in the gut – Elucidate ENS control of CNS using high-res sensing signals in vivo– Demonstrate control & eventual therapy for CNS disorders without highly invasive implantsEnterBio proposes to build on new, cutting-edge directions (organic/carbon-based bioelectronics and the gut-brain axis) to disrupt the field of CNS sensing/neuromodulation as technology to utilize ENS activity as an entry point to brain (dys)function is lacking. “Entering the bio” through the gut will be exactly this disruptor. EnterBio will achieve substantial improvements in relation to the barriers and obstacles of today’s sensing/neuromodulation technologies.