VISI-ON-BRAIN – An European doctoral network advancing next-generation human models for brain disorders

The Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona (UBneuro) continues to consolidate its position at the forefront of European neuroscience research through the strategic project “VISI-ON-BRAIN: Cutting-edge Human In Vitro and In Silico Biomedical Tools on Brain Disorders”

The initiative is led by Josep M. Canals, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and UBneuro researcher. The project is coordinated through Creatio.

VISI-ON-BRAIN is a training and research programme involving 15 PhD researchers focused on developing next-generation human models to advance the study of complex brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. The project represents a paradigm shift in neuroscience research, moving beyond animal models and advancing more ethical and human-relevant science through experimental (in vitro) and computational (in silico) approaches.

The programme is funded with €4.5 million under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA-DN), within Horizon Europe.

Neuroscience: advancing ethical and human-relevant models

Biomedical research is undergoing a global transformation towards innovation without the use of laboratory animals, promoting more ethical and effective science for humans. In Europe, this transition is supported by a roadmap to phase out animal testing and by calls from the European Parliament to accelerate the shift with clearer objectives and timelines. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has outlined plans to reduce animal testing in preclinical safety studies and expand new approach methodologies (NAMs), including advanced computational systems and in vitro models.

In neuroscience, this transition is particularly critical. The development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases has faced exceptionally high failure rates, highlighting the urgent need for models that better reflect human biology and disease progression. European strategies such as “Choose Europe for Life Sciences” and the forthcoming European Biotechnology Act further reinforce the importance of translating laboratory discoveries into real-world clinical and industrial impact.

VISI-ON-BRAIN aims to close this translational gap by building an integrated chain of predictive, reproducible and clinically validated experimental and computational tools. At the same time, it will train doctoral researchers capable of working at the interface of biology, data science, engineering and regulatory science.

A pan-European, cross-sector training and research platform

VISI-ON-BRAIN brings together 15 academic, clinical and industrial partners from eight European countries, creating a highly integrated ecosystem that combines laboratory innovation, advanced modelling, translational validation and regulatory perspectives.

The beneficiary consortium includes the Technical University of Denmark, the Prinses Máxima Centrum for Paediatric Oncology, the University of Tübingen, Lund University, Cardiff University, King’s College London, the National Research Council of Italy, Starlab Barcelona SL and FRESCI. Associate members include the University of Milan-Bicocca, Utrecht University, VeriGraft AB, San Raffaele Hospital and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).

The project is coordinated by the University of Barcelona through Creatio, reinforcing UBneuro’s role in leading high-impact, cross-sector European initiatives that bridge academia, clinics and industry.

From more data to better evidence in brain disorders

Brain disorders represent a major global health challenge, with significant societal and economic impact. VISI-ON-BRAIN will accelerate the development of robust decision-making tools for patient treatment, enabling more reliable go/no-go decisions, de-risking translational processes and improving the efficiency of therapeutic discovery.

Beyond scientific advances, the programme represents a strategic investment in training and competitiveness. It aims to educate a new generation of doctoral researchers who can move seamlessly between academia, clinical research and industry, contributing to the validation and regulatory acceptance of new approach methodologies.

VISI-ON-BRAIN is funded by the European Union under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101227124. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority.