IISc, Pratiksha Trust launch ‘Moonshot’ project on brain co-processors | India News
Bangalore: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Wednesday said it has launched a “moonshot” project to develop brain co-processors that combine neuromorphic hardware with AI algorithms to improve or restore brain function. The initiative is funded by the Pratiksha Trust, founded by Chris Gopalakrishnan and his wife Sudha.Gopalakrishnan, IISc Director Prof G Rangarajan and Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) Chief Executive Prof B Gurumurthy and other faculty members and deans in the presence of a formal MoU of partnership was signed at IISc.“The project aims to develop both implantable and non-invasive brain co-processors capable of decoding neural activity from brain recordings, processing these signals using AI algorithms and re-encoding them to the brain through neural stimulation or neurofeedback,” IISc said. The devices are expected to support cognitive rehabilitation, especially for stroke survivors who have lost tasks such as goal-directed reaching and grasping.Gopalakrishnan said: “India is emerging as a global leader in neuroscience by combining basic research with clinical applications through collaborative, international partnerships. Significantly supported by the Pratiksha Trust, the Brain Co-Processors Moonshot project accelerates the development of innovative medical technologies.”Ultimately, he said, the innovation aims to provide world-class transformative neurological treatments to the global population. The initiative is based on a pilot effort under IISc’s Brain, Computation and Data Science programme, a cross-departmental initiative involving more than 20 faculty members. That program is also supported by Pratiksha Trust.According to IISc, brain co-processors represent an emerging class of technologies designed to augment or restore normal brain function in real-world contexts. The current project seeks to develop an AI-powered, closed-loop device that interfaces with different regions of the brain to restore coordinated movement.A key focus of the project is to develop indigenous capacity. The team plans to indigenize implant design, hardware systems, and AI software stacks compatible with clinical infrastructure in low-resource settings. It aims to create an India-specific database of stereo EEG and EEG recordings and develop open-source AI tools, datasets and visualization platforms as digital public goods.“In its first phase, the team will develop and validate a non-invasive neural co-processor to provide sensorimotor feedback for goal-directed reaching in stroke survivors. A parallel foundation will be laid for an invasive implantable version,” IISc said.Phase II will focus on the development of a minimally invasive embedded co-processor intended to restore sensorimotor coordination in individuals with chronic, multi-domain deficits after middle cerebral artery stroke.The IISc team will collaborate with medical professionals and researchers across India to clinically validate and deploy the devices in line with national and international standards, IIScs said, adding that feedback from neurologists, therapists, patients and caregivers will be incorporated throughout development. The institute will also work with research partners in India and abroad.Professor Rangarajan said the Moonshot project brings together expertise across neuroscience, electrical engineering, bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing to address stroke rehabilitation.
