UK Agency ARIA Develops Advanced Brain Research Programs to Address Neurological Disorders

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:01:00 +0200

The UK’s Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA), founded in 2023, is taking on high-risk, high-reward research projects aimed at significant societal impact. With a government budget exceeding $1.3 billion through 2030, one of ARIA’s major initiatives is a £69 million program focused on precise modulation of the human brain to treat disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. ARIA program director Jacques Carolan explained that many neurological conditions stem from disrupted brain circuitry, which current interventions cannot adequately target. To address this, 19 research teams are exploring innovative approaches, including ultrasound-based brain mapping, gene therapy imaging, and advanced deep brain stimulation techniques. These technologies could eventually treat a wide spectrum of neurological conditions, potentially even depression and addiction. ARIA CEO Kathleen Fisher, formerly of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), highlighted the importance of e