In the VirtualBrainCloud project, Fraunhofer SCAI works together with 16 European partners on a cloud-based IT platform that enables the simulation of communication paths in the brain. The individual simulation of patient brains supports physicians in finding the right diagnosis and therapy for people with neurodegenerative diseases. This is usually difficult because the course and symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer's are often very different. With the platform, it will be possible to record the state of health of the brain with little effort. Regular routine examinations will enable physicians to detect and treat Alzheimer's disease at an early stage.

The VirtualBrainCloud takes into account the many causes of neurodegenerative diseases and the complex interactions that influence the risk of disease. Big data and high-performance computing approaches are important for the development of this neuroinformatics platform. In personal brain simulations, the protection of patient data is always guaranteed.

For the project, Fraunhofer SCAI is researching various disease courses of neurodegenerative diseases. These are important for the individual simulations. The scientists are investigating data on changes over time. In addition, SCAI is also responsible for processing the data used according to the FAIR principle (which means that the data should be "Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable"). The institute thus ensures that the research data comply with certain standards and are also accessible and reusable.

The research project is funded by the European Commission as part of the Horizon 2020 - Social Challenges - Health, Demographic Change and Welfare funding programme.

Project duration: 12/2018 – 11/2022
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