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. $900.000 of the prize money go to Professor Matthias Schneider of the Department of Physics, who holds an affiliate position at Boston University and works closely there with Professor Shyam Erramilli and Professor Bjoern Reinhard.
With the research funds, Professor Schneider plans to continue his investigations into the physics of nerve‑impulse propagation. “This funding is not only groundbreaking for my research 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. “My 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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