DIAMOND-CONNECT: Diamond Photonics Platforms for the Study of Connectivity in Neuronal Cell Models

Project funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT) (Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Ci), grant PTDC/NAN-OPT/7989/2020. Funded amount: EUR 248,729, as stated by the source. Runs 2021-03-01 to 2025-02-28. Keywords: Quantum Metrology, NV centers in diamond, Neuronal activity, Bioimaging, Engineering and technology. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2026-07-23); national funding data, not CORDIS; selected because its keywords name quantum. Abstract given by the source: The DIAMOND-CONNECT project led by INL builds on the advances in quantum metrology based on diamond photonics for magnetic field sensing. The project aims to advance the understanding of neuronal signalling and connectivity by the development and application of a novel and optimized diamond photonics platform. The planned experiments aim at an increased understanding of core processes in the functioning of the brain. A femtosecond laser shall be used to create optically active atom scale sensors at specific locations in a diamond crystal. The implantation depths and sensor pattern shall be optimized for the sensing of magnetic signals caused by stimulated neural networks. In partnership with neuroscientists from IBIMED – Institute for Biomedicine at the University of Aveiro, the diamond technology shall be benchmarked with state-of-the-art assays in neurosciences. Besides the scientific advances in the area of neurosensing, DIAMOND-CONNECT fosters the establishment of a quantum photonics pilot line in Portugal based on femtosecond laser writing combined with nanoscale material processing of diamond. This project is synergistic with current international, national and institutional efforts to foster Quantum technologies and support their fast market uptake, counting on the continuous support by the INL’s Industrial and Business Advisory Board. O projeto DIAMOND-CONNECT liderado por investigadores do INL tem em conta os avanços da metrologia quântica, nomeadamente em fotónica de diamante que permite a deteção de campos magnéticos. O projeto visa avançar na compreensão da sinalização neuronal- a partir do desenvolvimento e aplicação de uma nova e otimizada tecnologia baseada em plataformas de diamante. A visão do projeto inclui uma maior compreensão dos processos essenciais no funcionamento do cérebro. Um laser de femtossegundos será usado para criar sensores óticos à escala de átomos inseridos em locais específicos num cristal de diamante. As profundidades de [shortened; the full text is on the OpenAIRE page]

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT). Retrieved 2026-10-22. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The DIAMOND-CONNECT project, funded by FCT with EUR 248,729, runs from March 2021 to February 2025. It focuses on using diamond photonics for studying neuronal connectivity and signaling through advanced quantum metrology techniques. Suggested technology pillar: sensing. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.