A consortium of leading Spanish research and healthcare organisations has achieved a significant milestone in neurotechnology with the development of an innovative non-invasive neuromodulation prototype designed to treat neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
Led by TECNALIA, the Neumonas project has successfully developed and validated a system capable of delivering highly targeted neuronal stimulation without the need for surgery. The technology combines advanced nanoparticles, magnetic fields, and light-based activation to modulate brain activity with unprecedented precision.
One of the project’s key breakthroughs is its ability to transport therapeutic nanoparticles across the blood–brain barrier — a major challenge in neurological medicine. Once delivered to the target area, the nanoparticles can be activated externally, enabling selective stimulation of specific neurons deep within the brain.
The system has already demonstrated promising results in preclinical studies, where researchers observed neuroprotective effects in models of stroke and Parkinson’s disease, including reduced brain lesion volume, lower mortality risk, slower disease progression, and improved symptoms.
In parallel, project partners have developed a complementary monitoring system based on high-density electroencephalography (EEG), allowing researchers and clinicians to observe deep brain activity in real time through a wearable sensor-equipped cap.
According to the research team, the technology has the potential to open new therapeutic pathways for neurological disorders by providing a safe, precise, and non-invasive alternative to existing treatment approaches. Following successful validation in preclinical models, the next stage will focus on advancing the technology towards human clinical applications.
The Neumonas project brings together expertise from TECNALIA, the Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Bitbrain Technologies, the University of Navarra Clinic (CUN), the Biofisika Bizkaia Foundation (FBB), the Centre for Materials Physics (CFM), and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Funded through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme and supported by Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), the project represents a major step forward in the development of next-generation neurotechnologies.