HBP: Human Brain Project (BBC News)

Summary

Scientists from 135 research institutions, mostly Europe-based, are planning to participate in a 10-year, 1 billion pound neuroscience project, entitled the Human Brain Project (HBP). The HBP aims to explore how the human brain works, possibly ultimately developing computer simulations of brain activity, neurological processes and neurodegenerative diseases.

The HBP project will also entail creation of a new database of brain research, drawing upon the tens of thousands of international neuroscience articles and reports published annually.

“The HBP can be viewed as the neuroscience equivalent of the Human Genome Project”.

Read more: BBC News: Billion pound brain project under way.

Reference

Walsh, F. (2013). Billion pound brain project under way. London: BBC Health News, October 7^th 2013.

There are currently thirteen HBP subprojects planned:

1. SP1: Strategic Mouse Brain Data.
2. SP2: Strategic Human Brain Data.
3. SP3: Cognitive Architectures.
4. SP4: Mathematical and Theoretical Foundations of Brain Research.
5. SP5: Neuroinformatics Platform.
6. SP6: Brain Simulation Platform.
7. SP7: High Performance Computing Platform.
8. SP8: Medical Informatics Platform.
9. SP9: Neuromorphic Computing Platform.
10. SP10: Neurorobotics Platform.
11. SP11: Applications.
12. SP12: Ethics and Society.
13. SP13: Management.

At least one article has been published so far:

Full Text Link

Reference

Calimera, A. Macii, E. [and] Poncino, M. (2013). The Human Brain Project and neuromorphic computing. Functional Neurology, July / September 2013, Vol.28(3), pp.191-196. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).