Multi-user Equipment approved in grant 2013/07559-3: VICON Motion Capture 3D System

Abstract

The central biological questions of our RIDC is the investigation of basic mechanisms that lead to epilepsy and stroke and the injury mechanisms that follow the disease onset and progression, and are related to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Our goals are to develop new methods and techniques to improve the understanding of mechanisms of damage, plasticity and repair in epilepsy and stroke, and to apply these results to improve diagnosis, prevention and treatment. The main motivation of this project carne from the necessity of approaching these relevant and complex biological problems by combining the expertise of research groups with distinct and complementary backgrounds. One of the multiple aspects revealing the characteristic complexity associated with research on epilepsy and stroke is the fact that such conditions are not uniquely defined, i.e.it cannot be related to a single disease or a unique syndrome. Such a multiplicity of biological factors related to the etiology, symptomatology, prevention and treatment of epilepsy and stroke indicate the need of collaborative research in different areas of expertise. These are the main motivations for the organization of the present RIDC. Moreover, this initiative foresees the creation of a new environment for scientific and technological development, new clinical applications, education and interaction with the business sector. Our proposal will be driven by strong and relevant hypotheses, not only by advances in technology (i.e., it will not be only a method in search of a problem). The research for the development of new technology and improvement of current technology will be driven by solid scientific grounds and social needs in order to provide relevant application in the real world. This research proposal is outstanding as it is clinically important, realistic and scientifically highly original, combining genetics, neurobiology, pharmacology, neuroimaging, computer sciences, robotics, physics and engineering. Results will benefit patients with epilepsy, stroke and other prevalent diseases, and contribute substantially to ongoing scientific discussions within neurology, psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. The proposed collaborations between our RIDC and other major neuroscience centers outlined in the list of external collaborators will further advance knowledge directly relevant to all people suffering from devastating neurological conditions. (AU)