# 3D multifunctional deep brain interface for seizure detection and intervention

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2022 · $384,842

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
Treatment of neurological disorders and psychiatric diseases, such as epilepsy, remains a big clinical
challenge in large populations of patients. A fundamentally more effective treatment method requires a
thorough understanding of the functional networks in the brain. This endeavor, however, critically relies on
the engineering success of building a deep brain interface that mimics brain complexity and is also compatible
with brain tissues. A key challenge in current neural interface devices is to map and modulate the brain
dynamics over a large volume in deep brain while providing a high spatiotemporal resolution and maintaining
minimal tissue damage. Our primary goal is to address this challenge by developing a spatially
expandable fiber-based neural probe as a multifunctional deep brain interface. The central hypotheses
in this project are: (1) The spatially expandable fiber-based probe arrays can provide a minimally invasive 3D
interface to achieve biomechanical and biochemical compatibility with brain tissue, as well as to enable large
volume stimulation and recording with a high spatiotemporal resolution; (2) The probe arrays allow for more
precise detection of seizure foci compared with existing methods, and enable real time suppression of seizure
activities by localized optogenetic and drug regulation. The specific aims of this project are: (1) Develop
spatially expanded fiber-based probe arrays for multifunctional in vivo neural interfacing; (2) Elucidate the
electrical recording, optical stimulation, and drug delivery performance of the probe arrays in vivo and the
tissue response of the probe arrays; (3) Demonstrate seizure foci detection and real-time seizure suppression
using localized drug and optogenetic intervention in deep brain. The hypotheses and aims will be tested using
a clinically relevant animal model of virus-induced seizure in mouse employing a combination of
electrophysiology, optogenetics, and focal drug delivery in vivo, as well as imaging and histology in brain
slices. This technology can provide a powerful tool for advancing the fundamental study of the microcircuitry
and functional networks in both animal and human brains. In the future, these studies have the potential to
elucidate novel ways to detect and treat neurological diseases at an early stage and more effectively
compared to other existing methods.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10456940
- **Project number:** 5R01NS123069-02
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiaoting Jia
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $384,842
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10456940

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10456940, 3D multifunctional deep brain interface for seizure detection and intervention (5R01NS123069-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10456940. Licensed CC0.

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