Funding

Epilepsies represent a pathogenetically and clinically heterogeneous group of diseases for which only relatively non-specific and symptomatically effective therapies are available. Many patients do not become seizure-free or suffer from treatment-related side effects. In order to improve the success of therapy, a personalized and, if possible, disease-modifying, instead of only symptomatic treatment is necessary. The state government of Hessen is funding the “LOEWE Schwerpunkt,” led by the Epilepsy Centre at the University Hospital Frankfurt, with 4.7 million euros between 2018 and 2021.

Genetically encoded or addressable, light-controlled proteins or molecules are introduced in heterologous cells, tissue or whole animals to enable temporally precise and largely non-invasive control of molecular, cellular, or network activities.The DFG Priority Programme SPP 1926 “Next Generation Optogenetics” aims to generate novel optogenetic tools, with more specific properties and for ever increasing applications, in basic science, but potentially also for applications in human therapy.

Explaining an artificial intelligence system may not be fundamentally different from the task of explaining intelligent goal-directed behavior in humans. Behavior of a biological agent is also based on the information processing of a large number of neurons within brains and acquired experience. But, an explanation based on a complete wiring diagram of the brain and all its interactions with its environment may not provide an understandable explanation. Instead, explanations of intelligent behavior need to reside at a computationally more abstract level: they need to be cognitive explanations. WhiteBox, funded by the state government of Hessen with 4,7 mio euros for 4 years, aims at transforming blackbox models into developing whitebox models through cognitive explanations that are interpretable and understandable.