16. February 2026 | Press releases:

Mini-labs for the brain: New technologies for researching Alzheimer’s

Ing4Life, a research project at Technische Universität Braunschweig, is developing new high-tech tools to gain a better understanding of age-related brain diseases – and thus pave the way for more effective therapies: At the Braunschweig Centre for Systems Biology (BRICS), novel mini-laboratories are being created on a chip that combine electrical, optical and microfluidic technologies. This allows researchers to observe, stimulate and analyse nerve cells under realistic conditions without the need for animal testing.

Our society is ageing – and with it, diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia are on the rise. In order to better understand these diseases and develop new therapies, medical research needs more accurate and gentler measurement methods than before.

However, biological systems are extremely complex and subject to constant change. The nerve cells in the human brain are the most complex and sensitive to disturbances. Conventional measurement methods are often unable to adequately capture these delicate processes or influence the cells themselves. This is precisely where the Ing4Life project comes in: scientists are developing tiny measurement systems on a chip that make it possible to observe living nerve cells in real time under conditions that are as natural as possible – with high accuracy, efficiency and reproducibility and without animal testing.

Focus on nerve cells in the brain

Advances in the fields of microfluidics, microfabrication and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are summarised under the term ‘lab-on-a-chip’. On these chips, nerve cells can be continuously supplied with nutrients, specifically stimulated and simultaneously measured electrically and optically. The high degree of miniaturisation minimises disruption to the cells, so that their natural function is largely preserved.

A particular focus is on the brain, as nerve cells there not only transmit signals, but also constantly adapt, network with each other and interact with so-called glial cells. Disruptions to this delicate balance play a central role in age-related diseases. New findings could help to better understand the causes of dementia and develop targeted new drugs.

Alzheimer’s disease as a concrete example of application

The project combines expertise from engineering, neuroscience, systems biology, drug research and clinical practice and is supported by several research institutions in Braunschweig. Researchers from engineering, natural sciences and life sciences are working together to develop new tools for health research. Four central goals are being pursued:

  • New ‘mini-laboratories on a chip’ for nerve cells: Special microchips are being developed on which nerve cells can be cultivated and continuously supplied under realistic conditions. Extremely small electrodes are integrated into these chips, which are used to precisely measure the electrical activity of the cells. The surfaces and electrical properties of the electrodes are adjusted so that they interact optimally with the sensitive nerve cells.
  • Integrated light systems for observing and specifically activating cells: Another goal is to develop very compact light modules that can be integrated directly into the chips. These will make it possible to observe nerve cells microscopically and stimulate specific cell areas with light. This will allow real-time tracking of how certain parts of a nerve cell respond to stimuli – continuously and with high accuracy.
  • Comparative database on cell metabolism in health and disease: The project is building a database that compares the metabolism of healthy nerve cells with that of cells from models of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. This data will help to detect pathological changes at an early stage and better understand how diseases develop at the cellular level.
  • Investigation of the internal balance of nerve cells and new disease markers: Finally, the project analyses how nerve cells maintain their internal balance and how this is disrupted in age-related diseases. The focus is on examining individual cell areas separately and identifying new biological characteristics (biomarkers) that can indicate Alzheimer’s and similar diseases at an early stage.

About the project

Ing4Life is based at TU Braunschweig in the ‘Engineering for Health’ research focus and is being carried out in collaboration with the Braunschweig Integrated Centre for Systems Biology (BRICS), the Centre for Pharmaceutical Process Engineering (PVZ), the Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology (LENA) and the Nitride Technology Centre (NTC). Partners include the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures. The research focus combines expertise from engineering, biology, pharmacy, chemistry, physics, medicine and computer science.