With their new approach, the researchers pursue a fundamentally different physical conception of nerve conduction: this might have unforeseeable consequences for the development of brand-new treatment methods for neurological illness or form the basis for computer systems modeled on the soft and organic nature of the brain. To build a bridge towards application, the project will likewise examine the impact of lithium, one of the most frequently prescribed neuro-pharmaceuticals in psychiatry. For this, Teacher Matthias Schneider is also working with his other half Vanessa Myles, who is a psychiatrist.
Enhancing Transatlantic Exchange Between Dortmund and the USA
The National Science Structure (NSF) supports research study jobs by researchers and engineers who want to explore originalities and tackle significant obstacles in innovative methods through the Pioneer Award. $900.000 of the cash prize go to Teacher Matthias Schneider of the Department of Physics, who holds an affiliate position at Boston University and works closely there with Teacher Shyam Erramilli and Professor Bjoern Reinhard.
With the research study funds, Professor Schneider plans to continue his investigations into the physics of nerve‑impulse propagation. “This funding is not just groundbreaking for my research on the physics of physiology and the role of conservation laws in living systems,” states Schneider, who is Teacher of Medical and Biological Physics at TU Dortmund University. “My laboratory in Boston will also serve as a hub for students and researchers who are passionate about transatlantic exchange, which is more essential today than ever.” The physics departments of TU Dortmund University and Boston University already initiated a joint research study network in 2024.
To reinforce exchange between the Ruhr region and the Boston metropolitan area, Professor Schneider also established the “Boston-Ruhr Initiative for Undergraduate and Graduate Student Exchange” (BRIDGE). The aim of the program is to promote student exchange by helping with 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 likewise associated with the effort. The project is scheduled to begin in April 2026.
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