NewMEG Industrial Chair Marseille

What's it all about?

• Cutting-edge technology

MEG records the magnetic fields produced by neurons, enabling precise analysis of brain activity with excellent temporal resolution and spatial properties. Traditionally used for basic neuroscience and clinical applications, including pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy and analysis of post-traumatic brain states, MEG has long been limited by the high cost of the superconducting systems required.

• Innovations with OPM sensors

Recently, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have revolutionized this field. Unlike traditional sensors, OPMs do not require liquid helium cooling, reducing costs and opening up new possibilities, such as long-term recordings and the ability to adapt to different head sizes, which is particularly advantageous for children.

Collaboration and expertise:

• Mag4Health, a CEA LETI spin-off, operates a patented helium OPM technology operating at room temperature.
• Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (Aix-Marseille Université, Inserm): The Dynamap team, renowned for its expertise in MEG and epilepsy, has produced the first simultaneous recordings of OPM and intracerebral EEG, marking a world first.
• Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM)
• Aix Marseille Université institutes (Neuromarseille, ILCB, Laënnec, Marseille Imaging).

What are the objectives?

• Clinical Validation: Test and certify a MEG system with 48 OPM sensors in a clinical context.
• High-resolution development: Create an optimized prototype with 96 sensors for clinical and fundamental research.
• Widely disseminate MEG technology, currently restricted to a small number of universities and hospitals,
• Position research and clinical teams as Internationally leaders in the development and use of new MEG sensors.