4-Deep Brain Reconstruction

Introduction

The 4-Deep Brain Reconstruction, 4-DBR consortium aims at generating a brand-new technological approach to regenerate brain affections that occur in neurological disorders. With 180 million affected people and an economic burden of 798 billion euros/year, Europe needs a radical leap into the future.

Challenges in Brain Regeneration

The complexity of the human brain has condemned every past attempt at regeneration because incomplete technologies did not allow for a full recapitulation of the brain properties. Any one of them missing jeopardized the functionality of the whole. There can't be any incremental solution for brain damage; the technology must be all-in.

Project Focus

4-DBR will focus on developing an implantable 4D reconstructed brain able to recapitulate all brain properties. This includes:

• A complex architecture of neuronal cells integrated into a complete blood circuitry.
• An integrated opto-stimulator to induce correct specification and integration of neurons.

Technological Collaboration

4-DBR integrates 6 technological leaders from complementary fields who will unite to develop the components of reconstructed brains:

1. Laser-assisted bioprinting of pre-differentiated neurons with their native decellularized brain matrix.
2. Extrusion bioprinting of the vascular system.
3. In vitro blood-brain barrier reconstruction.
4. A tissue-integrated wireless-controlled stimulating optoelectrical chip.

These four components will then be combined into a transplantable reconstructed brain that will be tested in a small animal model of Huntington’s disease.

Timeline and Vision

While a first prototype will be delivered in 36 months, the vision unifying 4-DBR expands way further. Therefore, the project will put into action a strong dissemination and exploitation plan:

• Horizontally, 4-DBR will ensure the uptake of the generated methods to strengthen Europe’s technological actors.
• Vertically, 4-DBR will thrust the reconstructed brain approach up in the development ladder to potentially generate, in a 10-year span, a therapy to change the lives of many patients.