International research cooperation honored with Trailblazer Award
The scientists led by Principal Investigator Prof. Petia Vlahovska from Northwestern University were awarded the prize for their proposal entitled "Non-electrical Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitation - A New Direction for Brain-computer Interfaces and Neuroengineering". In their project, they are investigating the theory that nerve signals are not purely electrical, as previously assumed, but also transmit a mechanical signal that propagates along the nerve membrane like a wave. To this end, the researchers are developing biocompatible, synthetic neurons that mimic the behavior of real nerves. Instead of being purely electrical, the neurons transmit signals via an electro-mechanically coupled wave.
With their new approach, the scientists are pursuing a fundamentally different, physical concept of nerve conduction: this could have as yet unforeseeable consequences for the development of new treatment methods for neurological diseases or create the basis for computer systems that are modeled on the soft and organic nature of the brain. In order to bridge the gap to application, the project will also investigate the effect of lithium, one of the most frequently prescribed neuropharmaceuticals in psychiatry. To this end, Prof. Matthias Schneider is also working with his wife Vanessa Myles, who is a psychiatrist.
Strengthening transatlantic exchange between Dortmund and the USA
With the Trailblazer Award, the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports research projects by scientists and engineers who want to try out new things and tackle major challenges in an innovative way. 900,000 dollars of the prize money will go to Prof. Matthias Schneider from the Department of Physics, who holds a secondary position at Boston University and works closely with Prof. Shyam Erramilli and Prof. Bjoern Reinhard.
Prof. Schneider plans to use the research funds to continue his investigations into the physics of nerve impulse propagation. "This funding is not only groundbreaking for my research on the physics of physiology and the role of conservation laws in living systems," says Prof. Schneider, who is Professor of Medical and Biological Physics at TU Dortmund University. "My lab in Boston will also serve as a hub for students and researchers who are enthusiastic about transatlantic exchange, which is more necessary today than ever." The physics departments of TU Dortmund University and Boston University have already initiated a joint research network in 2024.
Prof. Schneider has also founded the Boston-Ruhr Initiative for Undergraduate and Graduate Student Exchange (BRIDGE) to strengthen the exchange between the Ruhr region and the Boston metropolitan area. The aim of the program is to promote student exchange by arranging internships in the fields of biomedical physics and AI. In addition to the Department of Physics at TU Dortmund University, MIT and Boston University, the Lamarr Institute, Essen University Hospital and the Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund are also involved in the initiative. The project is scheduled to start in April 2026.
Further information on the research project
Further information on BRIDGE.nrw
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