Nicosia: The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) has officially become a member of the META-BRAIN consortium, a groundbreaking European project focused on developing advanced technologies for the non-invasive regulation of brain function. This announcement coincides with World Brain Day, marking a significant step for CING as it contributes to this innovative research initiative.
According to Cyprus News Agency, META-BRAIN is supported by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, with funding amounting to approximately £3.5 million. The project is coordinated by IDIBAPS and includes esteemed institutions such as Hospital Clnic de Barcelona, CIBER – Centro de Investigaci³n Biom©dica en Red, Zabala Innovation, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – CNR and its research institutes, GTEC Medical Engineering, ETH Zurich, and now, the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
As the sole partner from Cyprus, CING brings its extensive expertise in neurology, genetics, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling of the brain to the project. CING’s integration into META-BRAIN is facilitated through the Hop-ON facility and will continue until the project’s end in December 2026. The institute’s involvement is expected to bolster the project’s core goals and further the development of innovative brain modulation technologies.
CING’s contribution will involve developing spatiotemporal computational models to explore how magnetoelectric and ultrasound interventions can regulate neural activity. These models aim to connect mesoscale neuronal dynamics with microscale single-neuron activity, enhancing the project’s outcomes and elevating CING’s research capabilities. The institute will focus on realistic mathematical modeling of cerebral activity at various scales, investigating the effects of magnetoelectric nanoarchitectures and ultrasound stimulation on neuronal dynamics.
Dr. Margarita Zachariou, Associate Scientist in the Bioinformatics Department at CING, will lead the META-BRAIN team, driving the institute’s efforts in this pioneering project.