Computer Modelling Needed

Why Medicine Needs Computer Modelling in the Fight against Brain Disease

Research into new drugs for brain disease is being held back because of a lack of fundamental understanding and models of brain function argues Steve Furber, who explains why policy makers and researchers worldwide should make computer modelling part of the solution.

Steve Furber | February 18, 2016

Brain diseases cost the developed economies more than heart diseases, cancer and diabetes put together, not to mention their impact on the quality of life of those affected and their families. Yet research into new drugs for brain diseases has all but stopped, because modern drug development is based on understanding disease processes and that same level of understanding is missing for the brain.

I believe that medical scientists should embrace research undertaken by their colleagues in computer science because it is widely accepted that we now have the tools, not only computers for modelling, but also brain imaging machines, multi-electrode probes, and many more, that make this the right time to try to push forward our understanding of this most complex of organs.

"Rise of super-intelligent robots gets closer: Harvard is given $28 million to build AI that works as fast as the human brain. Mammals spot patterns quickly, but AI must be extensively trained. Understanding how we recognise patterns will help make smarter AI. Researchers creating 3D maps of visual cortex connectivity in rat brains. Seeing these systems will help create biologically-inspired algorithms." Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3415998/Rise-super-intelligent-robots-gets-closer-Harvard-given-28-million-build-AI-works-fast-human-brain.html 

<more at http://blog.policy.manchester.ac.uk/posts/2016/02/why-medicine-needs-computer-modelling-in-the-fight-against-brain-disease/; related links and articles: http://www.nature.com/news/computer-modelling-brain-in-a-box-1.10066 (Computer modelling: Brain in a box. Henry Markram wants €1 billion to model the entire human brain. Sceptics don't think he should get it. February 22, 2012) and http://apt.cs.manchester.ac.uk/projects/SpiNNaker/ (SpiNNaker Home Page)>