Funded Projects

Browse wide-ranging research at the frontiers of neuroscience supported by Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute grants, awards, and training fellowships.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2023
High-Fidelity Artificial Retina for Vision Restoration

This team will use their Neuroscience:Translate award to develop a large-scale bi-directional neural interface that will restore high-fidelity vision to people blinded by retinal degeneration.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2023
New Thrombectomy Device for Endovascular Neurosurgery

This team will use their Neuroscience:Translate award to develop an entirely new class of ischemic stroke treatment device that will lead to improved clot extraction to improve the success of endovascular thrombectomy.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2023
Dissecting mechanisms of gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s Disease

People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) have different types of bacteria in their guts compared to people without neurological diseases. We will study which gut bacteria for people with PD to gain a better understanding of how gut bacteria contribute to inflammation in the body and in the brain or people with this condition. 

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2023
Novel ketone-derived anticonvulsant agents for the treatment of childhood refractory epilepsy

We propose to apply mass spectrometry techniques to measure BHB-Phe and other KD metabolites in children undergoing KD for refractory epilepsy at Stanford. Further, in a mouse model of refractory genetic epilepsy, we will compare targeted BHB-Phe treatment to full KD treatment using transcriptomics, EEG assessment of seizures and cognitive testing.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2023
Use of gut-brain electrophysiology to study interoception in eating disorders

In this study, we aim to (i) perform a feasibility study to determine the acceptance and feasibility of performing such recordings in the AN and ARFID eating disorders population and (ii) test the hypothesis that the electrophysiologic monitoring of the brain and stomach is associated with a clinically validated behavioral measure of interoception involving water distention of the stomach.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2017
The impact of early medial temporal lobe Tau in human cognitive aging
By measuring the aggregation of Tau protein in healthy older adults as well as those with Alzheimer's disease dementia using positron emission tomography imaging combined with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, this team hopes to predict who is at most risk for dementia in the future.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2019
Multi-modal deep learning for automated seizure localization

Developing an automated seizure detection and localization system based on deep neural networks, EEG data, and real-time video with the goal to dramatically increase neurologist diagnostic capabilities while improving quality of care.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2019
Sensory processing in a pre-seizure state
This team will leverage the power of silicon probes to record from hundreds of neurons in mouse epilepsy models to understand neural correlates of the pre-seizure EEG. These results will be used to optimize a real-time seizure prediction algorithm that will be tested in human patients.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2019
Quantifying auditory-vocal affect in human social communication

This proposal brings together faculty with this diverse expertise to develop the first gold standard test of auditory-vocal affect. Once developed, validated, and normed, we will deploy this test in the clinical context of autism to quantify impairments and direct neurobiological investigation.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2020
Targeting DNA repair for neuroinflammation in stroke
Acute brain inflammation after stroke and head trauma causes adverse health outcomes affecting millions of patients each year in the U.S., and current treatments are insufficient. This project will test a promising new therapy to reduce inflammation by targeting the enzyme OGG1, a potentially important controller of acute inflammatory responses. This project is jointly supported by the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and SPARK.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2020
CPStim: Optimized non-invasive brain stimulation for chronic pain
In light of the dual public health crises of chronic pain and opioids, there is an urgent need to develop non-addictive alternative therapies for chronic pain. This project's goal is to develop a new protocol for transcranial magnetic stimulation — a non-invasive method of neuromodulation — that is optimized for chronic pain treatment.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2020
Deep learning for automated seizure localization
Current automated seizure detection software is slow, inaccurate and rarely precise enough for clinicians to rely upon. This project aims to use cutting-edge AI methods to develop a powerful new algorithm that will enable better seizure diagnosis and treatment plan formation.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2021
Optimization of the African killifish platform for rapid drug screening for aggregate based neurodegenerative diseases
There are currently no available drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Using the power of a new vertebrate aging model, the African killifish, this team is investigating age-dependent protein aggregation at a systems level and identifying aggregating proteins in the aging brain. There is huge potential to optimize the killifish platform for phenotypic screening of drug libraries, notably those targeted at protein aggregation, which is central to neurodegenerative diseases.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Neuroscience:Translate Award
2021
Remote reliable measurements of movement using a Bluetooth enabled engineered keyboard solve an unmet need in neurological diseases

This team is developing a device that will enable accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease via telemedicine. They initially introduced the technology of Quantitative DigitoGraphy (QDG) using a repetitive alternating finger tapping (RAFT) task on a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) keyboard and will use Neuroscience: Translate funding for the next stage of device development.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2021
Mapping the Mitophagy Network in Parkinson’s Disease

We will comprehensively define the gene network associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease using a cutting-edge technology, CRISPR, to understand how these nerve cells die in PD and how we can reverse the cell death to treat the disease.