In this project 6 University laboratories, 1 Technological Research Center and 1 Company (SME) with experience in the development of high technology medical devices are combining their resources and efforts. These groups have been assembled because they:

· Have a common interest in the field of processing of visual information and rehabilitation.

· Command a wide range of complementary technical expertise including histology, physiology, computational modeling, artificial vision, pathology, neurology, neurosurgery and bioengineering.

· Are able to tackle the experimental, theoretical and technical problems associated with the development of useful interfaces to the nervous system, using several different approaches.

The overall strategy of the project is to set-up all the required industrial know-how to realize and safely implant an active cortical device to provide a functional sense of vision to blind persons with dysfunctions located in the periphery of the visual system

Picture of the group during the Kick-Off Meeting (Alicante, March 2002)

Coordinator:

UNIVERSITY MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ (SPAIN)

Dr. Eduardo Fernandez

Instituto de Bioingenieria

Facultad de Medicina

Universidad Miguel Hernandez

Campus de San Juan

03550 San Juan (Alicante), SPAIN

Tel: 00 34 965 91 9439

Fax: 00 34 965 91 9434

e-mail: e.fernandez@umh.es

Research Groups:

UNIVERSITY OF OLDENBURG (GERMANY)

Dr. Josef Ammermüller

Department of Biology AG Neurobiology

Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

Postfach 2503

26111 Oldenburg, GERMANY

Tel: 00 441 798 3420

Fax: 00 441 798 3423

e-mail: josef.ammermueller@uni-oldenburg.de

UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA (AUSTRIA)

Dr. Peter Ahnelt

Dept. Physiology. Med. School

Scwarzspanierstr, 17

University of Vienna

A1090 Vienna, AUSTRIA

Tel: 00 43 1 4277 62345

Fax: 00 43 1 4277 9623

e-mail: peter.ahnelt@univie.ac.at

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RESEARCH SCIENTIFIQUE (FRANCE)

Dr. Lyle Graham

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Neurophysique et Physiologie du Système Moteur, CNRS FRE 2361

UFR Biomédicale de l'Université René Descartes

45 rue des Saint-Peres

75270 Paris Cedex 06

Tel: 00 33 1 42 86 20 92 (Secrétariat : 00 33 1 42 86 21 38)

Fax: 00 33 1 49 27 90 62

e-mail: lyle@biomedicale.univ-paris5.fr

UNIVERSITY OF GRANADA (SPAIN)

Dr. Francisco Pelayo

Departamento de Arquitectura y Tecnologia de Computadores

Facultad de Ciencias. Campus de Fuentenueva

18071 Granada, SPAIN

Tel: 00 34 958 240 459 / 00 34 958 240 581

Fax: 00 34 958 248 993

e-mail: fpelayo@ugr.es

UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER (FRANCE)

Dr. Pierre Rabischong

Faculte de Medicine de Montpellier

Boulevard Henri IV, 5

34000 Montpellier, FRANCE

Tel: 00 33 467 04 68 19

Fax: 00 33 467 04 67 00

e-mail: Rabischong@aol.com

BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, S.L (SPAIN)

D. Francisco Garcia

Biomedical Technologies S.L.

Ronda Vall d’Uxo, 125

03205 Elche (Alicante), SPAIN

Tel: 00 34 966 66 22 59

Fax: 00 34 966 66 10 40

e-mail: info@biomedical-technologies.com

INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIA DE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES (PORTUGAL)

Dr. Moises Piedade

Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores

Investigacao a Desenvolvimento em Lisboa

Signal Processing Systems

Rua Alves Redol, 9

P1000-029 Lisboa, PORTUGAL

Tel: 00 351 21 3100245

Fax: 00 351 21 3145843

e-mail: msp@inesc.pt

EUROPEAN COMISSION

Dr. Gesa HANSEN

Scientific Officer

DG Research- F3

SDME 8 8/33, Rue de la Loi, 200

B –1049 Brussels

Tel: +32 2 2953977

Fax: +32 2 2955365

e-mail: gesa.hansen@cec.eu.int

Dr. Carlos Bonhorst

Project Technical Assistent

Av. du Vieux Cornet 9

B -1180 Brussels

Tel: +32 2 3755015

Fax: +32 2 3755015

e-mail: carlosbonhorst@skynet.be