Ilka Diester | “Towards bi-directional neuroprosthetics”

Clinical neuroscience Manfred Eigen lecture theatre Bidirectional brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are critical for restoring sensorimotor function, yet most existing systems decode motor signals without providing sensory feedback. The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) represents a key target for restoring touch and proprioception. Here, we propose an optogenetic framework combining bicistronic expression, two-photon calcium imaging, and holographic stimulation to map and recreate…

Ana Pinheiro | “From voice to speaker: computational mechanisms of self-voice perception and hallucinated agents”

Clinical neuroscience \ Manfred Eigen lecture theatre How does the brain know a voice is truly one’s own? Self-voice processing integrates sensory evidence with motor-related predictions generated during speech, enabling the distinction between self-generated and external voices. Drawing on behavioral and neuroimaging research across the psychosis continuum, I argue that alterations in these mechanisms provide a principled framework for understanding…

Volker Busskamp | “Transient vascularization improves retinal ganglion cell survival and function in human retinal organoids”

Clinical neuroscience \ Manfred Eigen lecture theatre Human retinal organoids offer promise for modeling retinal disease and testing therapies but are limited by poor vascular support and axonal instability, leading to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. We developed a bioengineered retinal organoid platform incorporating stem cell–derived endothelial cells to form transient vascular-like networks and microfluidic devices to stabilize axonal growth….