Robotics research used in trials for Parkinson’s disease treatments
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The use of robots could help find a better treatment for the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease – while avoiding animal testing.
Robotics researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are testing new therapies for Parkinson’s disease on robots.
The study, called “Neurorobotics model of Parkinson’s disease”, will use computer models of the human brain to replace the need for animal testing.
Centre collaborates in ground breaking study to test new therapies for Parkinson's disease
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A ground-breaking study is to test new therapies for Parkinson’s disease on robots – replacing the need for animal testing. Over the next year, academics from Heriot-Watt University and the International Institute of Neuroscience in Brazil will join forces on the pioneering study: Neurorobotics Model of Parkinson’s disease. Currently, scientists use rats in experiments to find new treatments but in this study, data already recorded from other animals in Brazil and robots in UK will be used instead.
Despite numerous attempts there is still no cure and therapies often rely heavily on incomplete animal models of the disease. The brain regions linked to Parkinson’s are also complex, limiting a complete understanding of the illness. Now, this study will combine neuroscience expertise with robotics, computational brain modelling and machine learning.
Parkinson’s disease currently affects more than 3 per cent of people over the age of 65, with figures set to double in the next 15 years.
Dr Patricia A. Vargas, founding director of the Robotics Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University and lead collaborator said: “This is a fantastic research project for our team to be working on. Not only will we possibly see new therapies for a debilitating llness, but it will also reduce the need to use animals for research.
“Parkinson’s disease affects individuals and families across the world, and scientists in Brazil and worldwide have been working hard to come up with new therapies but this project clearly demonstrates the positive affect robots can have on medical research, which can advance our knowledge about Parkinson’s beyond what is obtained through the use of anatomical and physiological studies alone. This piece of research will be beneficial to millions of people across the world. We will help develop new knowledge and new therapies whilst reducing the need to use animals in this research altogether.”
Robots to replace animals in fight against Parkinson’s disease
Date:
Over the next year, academics from Heriot-Watt University and the International Institute of Neuroscience in Brazil will join forces on the pioneering study: Neurorobotics Model of Parkinson’s disease.
Currently, scientists use rats in experiments to find new treatments but in this study, data already recorded from other animals in Brazil and robots in UK will be used instead.
