Mission: i-BRAIN is developing transformative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that blur the distinction between electronics and living tissue to produce seamless, noninvasive and fully-stable integration of electronics with the brain to enable groundbreaking research understanding the brain and brain diseases as well as breakthrough technologies for treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. i-BRAIN will create solutions for the near-term but also enable future advances and treatments that today may be considered the realm of science fiction.

Benefits to Society: The research carried out at i-BRAIN will create world-leading advances in brain science and neural engineering that enable transformative treatments of some of the most pressing human diseases facing society today, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, depression and aging. i-BRAIN will also instill a highly interdisciplinary culture in the training of young scientists, engineers and doctors such that they are prepared to lead the development and translation of science and engineering ideas for the benefit of present and future generations.

Research & Key Facilities

i-BRAIN encompasses advanced research laboratories, unique nanofabrication facilities and a positive, interdisciplinary culture designed to yield a globally influential innovation hub that leverages resources across science, engineering and medicine to create disruptive BCI technologies and the uniquely trained young talent that drive translation and commercialization to treat human brain diseases.

Disruptive BCI Technology

Merging the power and scalability of silicon integrated circuits with ultra-flexible minimally-invasive polymer-based electronics for chronic cognitive and motor studies in rodents, nonhuman primates and humans. A central focus is to monitor and modulate neural activity on a scale heretofore not possible in animal disease models and to translate these advances as neuro-technologies for the treatment of human diseases.

Ideal Brain/Electronics Interfaces

Develop ideal flexible probes that solve key issues facing all technologies today. In simple terms, we are developing BCIs that are stable in recording and stimulation at the level of individual neurons for the life-span of an adult human. The work involves basic research across sciences and engineering, studies in rodents and NHPs and ultimately translational studies in humans for development of next-generation BCIs.

BCIs for Regenerative Medicine

We are developing ‘pro-regenerative’ BCIs that not only monitor and/or stimulate neural activity but also promote and control the growth of new neural tissue to repair damage and/or neurodegeneration in the brain. The work involves basic research across sciences, engineering and medicine with the goal of translation to human patients for personalized treatment of a range of brain diseases in a way simply not possible today.

i-BRAIN Research & Office Space

The i-BRAIN laboratories and offices are located in 900 square meters of newly renovated space on the 19th floor of SMART building A. This state-of-the-art space includes areas for (i) electronics design, software development, and data analysis, (ii) characterization of BCIs and integrated circuits, (iii) prototyping and in vitro measurements, (iv) wet chemistry and biology, (v) cell and tissue culture, (vi) tissue clearing and histology, (vii) an isolated clean rodent area for long-term care, surgery, and cognitive/behavioral electrophysiology studies, and (viii) high-performance computing. Open office spaces provide a comfortable working environment and scenic views of the surrounding Guangming community.

i-BRAIN Nanofab Facility

i-BRAIN also integrates advanced nanofabrication facilities and a positive, interdisciplinary culture designed to create a globally influential innovation hub. By facilitating the design and exploration of new BCI designs through basic research to commercial prototyping the nanofabrication facility seeks to allow researchers across science, engineering and medicine to realize their dreams and create disruptive BCI technologies and drive translation and commercialization to treat human brain diseases.

Explore Facilities

Other Key Facilities

The integration i-BRAIN within Shenzhen Medical Academy for Research and Translation (SMART) in Guangming provides a vibrant research environment with virtually all critical facilities within walking distance thereby reducing barriers to transformative research. Additional key facilities available at SMART include (i) state-of-the art optical imaging facility and (ii) fully-staffed 12000 cage rodent facility. In addition, the nearby Brain Science Infrastructure Shenzhen has full-time staff monitoring 2000 NHP cages, state of the art surgical facilities, and dedicated space for our NHP BCI studies.