Pint of Science Festival: Advancing treatments from the brain to the spine

How can we reach areas that are far down without damaging the overlaying layers? A typical approach is using an endoscope, a thin rod that can be stuck inside the body, to take an image. However, even the smallest available endoscopes are rather invasive. This presentation introduces the use of optical fibres, ultra-thin cylinders of glass which are as thin as a human hair, to peek into the depths of the brain without causing much damage.

Looking inside the brain is tricky

Maike Lenz (DPhil Researcher)

How can we reach areas that are far down without damaging the overlaying layers? A typical approach is using an endoscope, a thin rod that can be stuck inside the body, to take an image. However, even the smallest available endoscopes are rather invasive. This presentation introduces the use of optical fibres, ultra-thin cylinders of glass which are as thin as a human hair, to peek into the depths of the brain without causing much damage.

Building replacement parts for the damaged nervous system: from spinal cord injury to epilepsy

Professor Alex Green (Consultant Neurosurgeon, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences) Professor Tim Denison (Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies MRC Investigator)

When treating neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s disease, we normally rely on drug discoveries, but this is often a costly and lengthy process. Alternative approaches to treatment include bioelectronics, which work directly with the body’s own nervous system to monitor brain signals and, as needed, tweak the electrical activity within nerves to alleviate disease symptoms. We can reprogram these systems as scientific understanding of the brain evolves, applying these tools and know-how to prototype concepts for future disease treatments; all with the goal of ultimate clinical translation.