Understanding Neurons and the Circuitry of the Brain Jonathan H. Manton The University of Melbourne November 2008

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Talk Overview 1.Vision 2.Our Facilities  University of Melbourne  Bio21 Cluster  NICTA (National ICT Australia) 3. Research  Personal Interests  CONECT Research Centre  Research Strategy  Example Projects 4.Conclusion

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Vision To understand ›High level mechanisms of neuronal circuitry ›Principles behind how neural circuits compute To develop mathematical models at different levels of complexity ›Understand relationships between models ›Understand when each model is appropriate Ultimate goals ›Interface (bi-directionally) with neural circuitry ›Mathematically explain (and reproduce) behaviour and cognition ›Build technology/feature extractors as efficient as the brain ›Cure neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson's, epilepsy)

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne Established 1853 World-class university Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings ›79th in the world (2007) Times Higher Ed Supplement rankings ›27th in the world (2007) ›21st in the world – Universities for Technology

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Melbourne University Campus

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Parkville Biomedical Precinct How to achieve vision? Generate strategic links with affiliated biomedical research institutions and major hospitals near its campus Collaboration between: Melbourne School of Engineering Bio21 Cluster NICTA

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Melbourne School of Engineering

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Melbourne School of Engineering 6 engineering departments Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Civil & Environmental Engineering Computer Science & Software Engineering Electrical & Electronic Engineering Geomatics Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical Eng taught across 5 departments) 13 major research centres 4500 students (1400 international) ICT Building

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Bio21 Cluster Not-for-profit company of Members Committed to the advancement of basic biomedical science translational clinical research and biotechnology training in research of the highest order science communication and education commercialisation of biotechnology discoveries

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Bio21 Institute Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute Owned by the University of Melbourne Multidisciplinary research centre ›Medical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology Vision ›To improve health and the environment through innovation in biotechnology, driven by multidisciplinary research and dynamic engagement with industry Accommodates more than 450 research scientists, students and industry participants Bio 21 Foyer

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Bio21 Members Melbourne Health Uni of Melbourne Walter-Eliza Institute Austin Biomedical Bionic Ear Institute CSIRO (Health) Howard Florey Inst. Mental Health Inst. Murdoch Children’s Hospital NICTA Victoria Orygen Research Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre St Vincent’s Hospital Royal Women’s Hospital Victorian College of Pharmacy

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne NICTA – National ICT Australia Mission: to be an enduring world-class information and communications technology research institute that generates national benefit NICTA commenced May 2002 $380M Commonwealth funding Over $500M with stakeholder contributions ›Partner universities, state government Target to employ 300 researchers and support 300 PhD students ›Over 370 FTE employees and 309 PhD students Victorian node in EEE at UniMelb

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne NICTA Victoria Research Lab Victoria Research Laboratory (VRL) formed June 2004 Funding from NICTA, MU, Vic Gov (~$120M ) Located in Engineering School at MU 75 researchers 87 PhD students Approx 50% projects in ICT for life sciences ›Collaboration with Melbourne life sciences institutes Research in life sciences includes ›Epilepsy / Computational Neuroscience ›Bionic Eye ›Bioinformatics ›Big Picture: Human Physiome Project

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Talk Overview 1.Vision 2.Our Facilities  University of Melbourne  Bio21 Cluster  NICTA (National ICT Australia) 3. Research  Personal Background  CONECT Research Centre  Research Strategy  Example Projects 4.Conclusions

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne My Background Mathematics ›Differential and algebraic geometry Electrical Engineering ›Signal processing, optimisation, filtering Recently started to learn neuroscience GOAL: To apply mathematics and electrical engineering to understand neurons and the circuitry of the brain How? ›Establish University-wide theme ›Establish CONECT Research Centre

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne CONECT Research Centre CONECT Centre of Neuro-Engineering and Computation STATUS ›Currently being established ›PhD projects already on offer ›Will bid for funding as an ARC Centre of Excellence ›Will seek additional sources of funding –Government –Industry

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Vision (Re-visited) To understand ›High level mechanisms of neuronal circuitry ›Principles behind how neural circuits compute To develop mathematical models at different levels of complexity ›Understand relationships between models ›Understand when each model is appropriate Ultimate goals ›Interface (bi-directionally) with neural circuitry ›Mathematically explain (and reproduce) behaviour and cognition ›Build technology/feature extractors as efficient as the brain ›Cure neurological diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s, epilepsy)

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Research Strategy Bring Mathematical and Life sciences together ›Each project will span Faculties: Engineering, Science, Medicine Projects will expand the scope of traditional fields ›Mathematical modelling, System identification, Information theory, Statistical mechanics Rationale: ›Generally accepted that next phase of major breakthroughs will require true cross-disciplinary effort ›Mathematics and physics is a very successful symbiosis. Apply this to the life-sciences and the mathematical sciences

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Research Strategy Identified 3 properties of networks and neurons 1. Self-organisation Put 10,000 neurons together and they form a network Repeat experiment and network is different However, networks behave similarly – HOW? 2. Computation What are the basic building blocks used by neural networks in order to compute? How is information stored and transferred? 3. Behaviour How are basic building blocks combined to explain (emergent) behaviour?

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Research Strategy The neural circuitry identified to help us understand include ›Enteric nervous system (gut) ›Cultured (in vitro) network ›In vivo networks (e.g. imaging of cortical networks in mice) Technology ›Build imaging devices to probe neural circuitry Theory ›Bring together leading mathematicians, engineers, neuroscientists, etc Experimentation ›Results are grounded on solid experimentation

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Example Projects How do random neural networks compute? ›Use probabilistic inputs to artificial neural networks to emulate the behaviour of the brain ›Help us understand how the brain computes Emulating how the nervous system learns ›Person playing sport gets more co-ordinated with time ›Control theory approach to understanding how this happens ›Help us design better adaptive control systems Biophysical models of epileptic networks ›Second most common neurological condition in the world (second only to stroke) ›Understand the onset and offset of seizures via mathematical models

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne Conclusion Looking for interested collaborators at all levels ›Distinguished visitors, research fellows, PhDs, Masters, Undergraduate Many funding opportunities to be explored ›Local: Industry, Government, University ›International: Exchange programs, collaborative research We are guided by long-term goals and the vision to Understand Neurons and the Circuitry of the brain

Jonathan H. Manton, The University of Melbourne © Copyright The University of Melbourne 2008