A silicon chip has been developed that can monitor brain cell activity at an unprecedented resolution. The chip houses a network of cells, which has never been accomplished in the past. The goal is to analyze how the brain works and how it responds to diseases battling drugs.
Developed between the University of Calgary and National Research Council Canada, the chip is automated and easier to use than devices in the past that could also only monitor one or two cells at a time. There are even more plans on upscaling the chip to perform major drug screening.
head of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Naweed Syed, says, " This technical breakthrough means we can track subtle changes in brain activity at the level of ion channels and synaptic potentials, which are also the most suitable target sites for drug development in neurodegenerative diseases and neuropsychological disorders." Rapid drug development and testing is close at hand. However, does the testing all happen in real time, so the long term effects will still be unknown? And where are they getting these brains?
A little more information is available at the University of Calgary's website. I look forward to reading about test results.
Cabe