Research project that aims to advance neuroscience gets go ahead for €150 million final phase

Work has started on the final stage of one of the largest scientific projects ever funded by the European Union, with help from researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). 

The Human Brain Project (HBP) has been granted €150 million from the European Commission to build a research infrastructure involving robots, artificial intelligence, supercomputers, big data analytics and simulation that could help advance neuroscience, brain-related medicine and computing. 

Experts from DMU’s Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility (CCSR) have been tasked with managing the ethics-related activities and contributing to the implementation of responsible research and innovation across the project. 

Professor Bernd Stahl, Director of the CCSR, said: “DMU has a key role in the HBP, looking after the management of all ethical issues and social implications of the research. 

“As part of this, we provide guidance and advice on the actual and potential impacts of the computing and related technologies involved.” 

Established in 2013, the HBP is one of the largest research projects in Europe. Now entering the final phase of its 10-year lifespan, the project will present its scientific work plan and transformative technological offerings for brain research and brain-inspired research and development. 

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There are six elements that form the heart of the research infrastructure of the HBP, including:  

• Neuroinformatics (access to shared brain data) 

• Brain simulation (replication of brain architecture and activity on computers) 

• High performance analytics and computing (providing the required computing and analytics capabilities) 

• Medical informatics (based on patient data, identification of disease signatures) 

• Neuromorphic computing (development of brain-inspired computing) 

• Neurorobotics (use of robots controlled by brain-inspired technologies) 

The HBP also undertakes targeted research and theoretical studies, and explores brain structure and function in humans, rodents and other species.  

Over the next three years, the project will narrow its focus to advance three core scientific areas that use brain-inspired systems intended to replicate the way that humans learn, including brain networks, their role in consciousness, and artificial neural networks. 

There are some 500 scientists involved in the project, at more than 100 universities, teaching hospitals and research centres across Europe. 

For more information visit: www.humanbrainproject.eu