When AI Meets Humanity: The Starlab's journey
Aureli Soria-Frisch, director of Starlab Barcelona has led an extraordinary journey into the field of consciousness research. Starlab brought together research teams from across Europe to work on a European collaborative project, turning cutting-edge research into market innovations.
"Consciousness has always fascinated me" Aureli says, "it's what drew me to study AI from a technical perspective." Having been fascinated by consciousness throughout his career, Aureli had studied electrical engineering and artificial intelligence, with a focus on understanding consciousness from a technical perspective. Inspired by a scientific paper exploring how consciousness could be measured, Aureli and his team wondered if they could apply Starlab's technology to develop a more precise method for measuring brain activity, utilising technologies already under development at the company.
To bring this ambitious project to life, Starlab assembled a global team of experts. Without hesitation, Aureli contacted the authors of the original paper, securing a successful collaboration. The consortium expanded to include important institutions across Europe, including Milan, Rennes, Dortmund, Oxford, Thüringen, and Liège, each contributing specialised expertise.
The team identified four key innovations with one standing out—a digital biomarker based on brain activity—a method that had enormous potential in clinical trials and was especially promising in the field of brain health. After the project's completion in 2020, Starlab's goal was to place this biomarker at the forefront of clinical applications. They aimed to use the biomarker in pharmaceutical trials, targeting conditions like Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, and even emerging fields such as psychedelics research.
Transitioning from research to market brought successes and challenges. Initially the team had not considered applying the biomarker in clinical settings. However, as the research progressed, its potential became clear, especially in areas like Alzheimer's, where understanding brain activity is vital.
Starlab's efforts have already led to commercial success, and the biomarker has already gained interest from pharmaceutical companies. "We've signed a contract with a company developing treatments for Down syndrome," Aureli notes proudly. "And we're actively pursuing more partnerships in the field of Alzheimer's research."
Though the project has ended, its impact continues to grow, marking a significant milestone in Starlab's mission to turn innovative research into marketable solutions.
For Starlab, this project was not an isolated success, but part of the company's ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding. It demonstrates how research can drive healthcare innovation. For Aureli the project has had personal significance as well. "It allowed me to delve deeper into consciousness—a topic I've always been passionate about," he says.
By translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions, they are paving the way for a future where technology and health converge for the betterment of humanity.
Coordination EIC Communities Project:
· Stefania De Santi (APRE)—desanti@apre.it
· Jessica Bonanno (APRE)—bonanno@apre.it
Communication Officer:
· Cesar Giovanni Crisosto (ICONS)—cesar.crisosto@icons.it
· Caterina Falcinelli (ICONS)—caterina.falcinelli@icons.it
Project website: https://deepsync.eu
LinkedIn: DEEPSYNC
Provided by iCube Programme