Assist. Teodor Vakarelski from the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies – BAS was interviewed by the Bulgarian science newspaper Azbuki (issue 34, August 2026), discussing the VIBraTE project’s research on brain implants and their interaction with brain tissue.
The team’s core challenge is to study diffusion around brain implants – a process in which connective tissue gradually encapsulates the implant, eventually rendering it non-functional. Researchers are developing mathematical models of the brain’s viscoelastic properties to predict this interaction and find ways to extend the operational lifespan of implants.
Beyond treating paralysis, brain implants show promising applications in clinical depression and epilepsy. The research is conducted in the new experimental laboratory at IICT-BAS, established under the VIBraTE project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme.
