Organic electronics pioneer Professor George Malliaras and medical technology start-up Coherence Neuro, founded by alumni, have joined a consortium set up to develop next generation, miniaturised bioelectronic implants to treat chronic diseases.
We will leverage and expand our expertise on miniaturised, ultraflexible electrodes that interface with sensitive nerves without causing any damage.
Professor George Malliaras
Project SPARCLE – also known as Small form factor implantable Pulse generAtoRs for Chronic and Lifestyle-related disease managEment – is a European research initiative, which fuses bioelectronics, flexible materials and AI-driven modelling, with the aim to transform healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
The project, involving some of Europe’s leading neurotech companies, research organisations and universities, aims to create a microelectronic chip and a small, flexible form factor for a battery-less, implantable pulse generator. This technology will serve as a universal neurostimulator platform to be applied in treating chronic diseases such as neuro-based cancer treatments, severe migraines and spinal cord injuries.
The project, supported by XECS, specifically targets applications in three areas:
- Severe migraines: aiming to address an underserved market with significant demand for effective, minimally invasive solutions.
- Oncology: developing neurostimulation therapies for cancer treatment, particularly pancreatic adenocarcinoma – the most common type of pancreatic cancer.
- Spinal cord injuries: enhancing quality of life and reducing healthcare costs by restoring functions lost due to spinal cord injuries.
Professor Malliaras, who leads the Bioelectronics Laboratory at the Department of Engineering, said: “Our involvement will be on the front-end of the system, i.e. in the development of flexible microelectrodes from conducting polymers to create new peripheral nerve interfaces.”
The peripheral nerve is located outside of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). The peripheral nervous system acts as a communication network, relaying messages and sensory information (like pain and touch) between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.
“We will leverage and expand our expertise on miniaturised, ultraflexible electrodes that interface with sensitive nerves without causing any damage,” he added.
Using advanced conductive polymer layers on the implants means that electrode impedance can be reduced, leading to enhanced safety and performance, with no hinderance to signal transmission.
Professor Malliaras said: “I am excited to collaborate with the project partners to integrate microelectrodes into a comprehensive platform for bioelectronic medicine, with the goal of addressing a wide range of conditions, including severe migraines, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and spinal cord injuries.”
Coherence Neuro – founded by alumni
The Coherence Neuro team. Alumnus Dr Ben Woodington can be seen on the back row, far right. Alumna Dr Elise Jenkins can be seen on the front row, first left. Credit: Coherence Neuro.
Professor Malliaras’ mentorship and guidance formed our foundational understanding of how to invent, build and clinically translate neurotechnology.
Joining Professor Malliaras on the project is UK medical technology start-up Coherence Neuro, co-founded and led by former Engineering PhD students Dr Ben Woodington and Dr Elise Jenkins. They first met in 2018 while carrying out research across the fields of neuroengineering and neuro-oncology in Professor Malliaras’ Bioelectronics Laboratory.
Coherence Neuro and other consortium partners will have the option to lead specific clinical use-cases, ensuring that the technological outputs align with real-world healthcare applications. This will provide an opportunity to showcase the prototypes’ effectiveness in managing chronic conditions, from severe migraines to spinal cord injury and oncological neuromodulation.
“It’s a pleasure to partner with Professor Malliaras on the UK side of this consortium,” said Dr Woodington. “The Bioelectronics Laboratory is where Elise and I (the founders of Coherence Neuro) met. Professor Malliaras’ mentorship and guidance formed our foundational understanding of how to invent, build and clinically translate neurotechnology.”
He added: “At Coherence Neuro, our team has had a busy few years building and translating advanced neurotechnology that can integrate with the brain and body; connecting biology to machines and treating diseases like cancer. We’re on the cusp of bringing these technologies to human patients and this consortium will allow us to expand further, covering more diseases.”
