Research award will accelerate research to map brain electrical circuits

Research award will accelerate research to map brain electrical circuits

A bioengineer from the University of Nottingham has been awarded a Wellcome Accelerator Award for research using optical microscopy to create detailed electrical "maps" of brain neurons to help understand how they change as disease progresses.

Sidahmed Abayzeed, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering has received £200k for his project NeurOhmics – a platform that combines ultra-high-resolution optical microscopy based on electrical impedance and artificial intelligence for enhanced sensitivity. 

This research will allow, for the first time, the creation of detailed electrical "maps" of neurons and understand how they change as disease progresses – establishing the foundation for future large-scale research programmes and international collaborations.

Neurons transmit information through electrical signals, and like electrical wires, they have specific properties (resistance and capacitance) that determine how well signals travel. Despite years of neuroscience research, we cannot visualize how these properties vary along individual neurons or change over time – a critical knowledge gap that limits our understanding of brain function and neurological diseases affecting 3 billion people globally.

The Optocoulombics Lab at the University of Nottingham, led by Dr Abayzeed creates advanced tools to model, measure and understand charge interactions at the micro and nano scales. Charge dynamics are fundamental to life, governing everything from neural signalling and muscle contraction to hormonal regulation and biochemical reactions. In-depth understanding of charge dynamics will inspire innovative devices for various applications including energy.

The Wellcome Accelerator Award scheme supports researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that put them in a stronger position to reach their next career stage within academia. 

Commenting on his award Dr Abayzeed said: “ I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious Wellcome Accelerator Award. NeurOhmics has been a dream I've been developing for nine years, and this is the first successful attempt to fund this cutting-edge and groundbreaking project.

“As an academic of Black heritage, this recognition is particularly meaningful – it acknowledges both the scientific potential of our work and the importance of diverse perspectives in advancing neuroscience and bioengineering.

“This award will enable us to address fundamental questions about how electrical signals propagate in the brain, with implications for understanding neurological conditions affecting billions worldwide. I am also excited about the community initiative that this award will catalyse – including a structured mentoring programme for researchers from minority backgrounds . This creates opportunities not just for scientific discovery, but for building a more inclusive research community