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Panoramic view on the North Campus © Jürgen Huhn​/​TU Dortmund
Research on Nerve Signals

International Research Collaboration Receives Trailblazer Award

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Animation of a nerve signal in shades of blue. The signal is illustrated by a yellow stripe and flashes. © Matthias Schneider
The researchers are investigating the theory that nerve signals are not purely electrical but also transmit a mechanical signal.
A research project by Boston University and Northwestern University has received the Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The award, endowed with three million dollars, supports researchers who pursue innovative and novel research directions. Representing TU Dortmund University is physicist Prof. Matthias Schneider and his research on the physics of nerve impulse propagation. The funding will also strengthen transatlantic exchange among researchers and students.

The scientists led by Principal Investigator Professor Petia Vlahovska of Northwestern University were honored for their proposal titled “Non-electrical Mechanisms of Neuronal Excitation – A New Direction for Brain-computer Interfaces and Neuro-engineering.” In their project, they investigate the theory that nerve signals are not purely electrical, as previously assumed, but also transmit a mechanical signal that propagates along the nerve membrane like a wave. To this end, the researchers are developing biocompatible, synthetic neurons that mimic the behavior of real nerves. Instead of transmitting signals purely electrically, the neurons are intended to transmit them through an electro‑mechanically coupled wave.

Portrait photo Matthias Schneider © Roland Baege​/​TU Dortmund
Physicist Prof. Matthias Schneider from TU Dortmund University is involved in the project.

With their new approach, the researchers pursue a fundamentally different physical conception of nerve conduction: this could have unforeseeable consequences for the development of new treatment methods for neurological diseases or form the basis for computer systems modeled on the soft and organic nature of the brain. To build a bridge toward application, the project will also investigate the effect of lithium, one of the most commonly prescribed neuro-pharmaceuticals in psychiatry. For this, Professor Matthias Schneider is also working with his wife Vanessa Myles, who is a psychiatrist.

Strengthening Transatlantic Exchange Between Dortmund and the USA

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports research projects by scientists and engineers who want to explore new ideas and tackle major challenges in innovative ways through the Trailblazer Award. At Boston University, Prof. Shyam Erramilli and Prof. Bjoern Reinhard, two long-time colleagues of Prof. Matthias Schneider, work closely with him.

“This funding is not only groundbreaking for our research area on the physics of physiology and the role of conservation laws in living systems,” says Schneider, who is Professor of Medical and Biological Physics at TU Dortmund University. “The laboratory in Boston will also serve as a hub for students and researchers who are enthusiastic about transatlantic exchange, which is more necessary today than ever.” The physics departments of TU Dortmund University and Boston University already initiated a joint research network in 2024.

To strengthen exchange between the Ruhr region and the Boston metropolitan area, Professor Schneider also founded the “Boston-Ruhr Initiative for Undergraduate and Graduate Student Exchange” (BRIDGE). The aim of the program is to promote student exchange by facilitating internships in the fields of biomedical physics and AI. In addition to the Department of Physics at TU Dortmund University, MIT and Boston University, the Lamarr Institute, University Hospital Essen, and the Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund are also involved in the initiative. The project is scheduled to start in April 2026.

Further information on the research project

Further information on BRIDGE.nrw

 

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