MEG-system with Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs) (Teilfinanzierung)

该申请将申请资金，用于在欧洲最大的大学医院之一柏林夏洛特大学购买由光泵磁力计(OPM)组成的脑磁图(MEG)系统，用于测量临床和非临床人群的脑活动。目前，柏林的Charité-Universityätsmediz无法使用MEG系统。因此，这项建议解决了一个关键的缺口，这将至关重要地推进精神和神经疾病的研究。OPM利用气相中的原子作为大脑电活动的敏感磁场探测器。OPM传感器在过去二十年中发展迅速，现在达到了类似于采用超导量子干涉器件(SQUID)的MEG系统的灵敏度。重要的是，与传统的SQUID-MEG系统相比，OPMS有几个优势，因为OPMS可以在接近室温的条件下运行，而不需要氦冷却。此外，OPM可以比鱿鱼传感器更靠近头皮，从而提高了信噪比，并便于在儿科和临床人群中进行测量。这项应用的目标是与在OPM-MEG开发方面拥有长期专业知识的德国计量研究所(Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt，PTB)一起建立一个领先的OPM-MEG设施，将这项技术应用于了解、检测和治疗精神和神经疾病。OPM-MEG设施将被10个临床和基础研究小组用于精神病学(精神病、精神分裂症、自闭症谱系障碍)和神经疾病(帕金森病、癫痫)的研究，以及开发新的OPM传感器和对基本大脑过程的研究。最先进的OPM-MEG系统将由96个OPM传感器组成，这些传感器可以覆盖整个大脑，并检测大脑皮质和皮质下区域的神经活动。具体地说，预计位于柏林夏洛特大学的OPM-MEG设施将在开发用于脑部疾病早期检测和诊断的生物标记物方面取得重大进展，并促进对电路机制和新型治疗方法的深入了解。

This application will request funds for the acquisition of a magnetoencephalographical (MEG) system consisting of optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) for the measurement of brain activity in clinical and non-clinical populations at Charité-Universitätsmedizin-Berlin, one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. Currently, a MEG-system is not available at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Accordingly, this proposal addresses a crucial gap that will critically advance research into psychiatric and neurological conditions. OPMs utilize atoms in the gas phase that serve as sensitive magnetic field probes for electric activity of the brain. OPM-sensors have rapidly developed in the past two decades and now reach sensitivities similar to MEG-systems that employ Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs). Importantly, OPMs have several advantages over traditional SQUID-MEG systems since OPMs can operate at near room-temperatures without helium cooling. Moreover, OPMs can be located closer to the scalp than SQUID-sensors, resulting in improved signal-to-noise as well as facilitating measurements in pediatric and clinical populations. The goal of this application is to establish a leading OPM-MEG facility together with the German Metrology Institute (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB), which has a long-standing expertise in the development of OPM-MEG, to apply this technology for the understanding, detection and treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders. The OPM-MEG facility will be utilized by 10 clinical and basic research groups for studies into psychiatric (psychosis, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders) and neurological conditions (Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy) as well as for the development of novel OPM-sensors and research into fundamental brain processes. The state-of-the-art OPM-MEG system will consist of 96 OPM sensors that allow whole-brain coverage and the detection of neural activity in cortical and subcortical brain regions. Specifically, it is expected that the OPM-MEG facility at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin will allow critical advances in the development of biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis of brain disorders as well as advance insights into circuit mechanisms and novel treatments.