Adam is at the forefront of developing tools combining in vivo recording and drug delivery with high potential for future clinical use in collaboration with prof. George Malliaras.
We are collaborating with Adam’s lab on testing these tools and judging their usefulness in neurodegenerative dementias like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

See below the abstract of Adam’s talk, short bio and selected list of publications.

One of the most scientifically interesting topics currently in applied sciences is the interface between modern microelectronics and the human brain. There are two primary motivations for combining microelectronics and neuroscience. The first is to improve the technological tools used to investigate neuroscientific questions. Ideally improved technology will help illuminate aspects of neuroscience previously not understood. The second is to create new tools for diagnosis and treatment of neuropathologies, including epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
There are many fields of material science currently developing microelectronics to interface with the brain, however organic electronics has developed several materials with exceptionally attractive properties for neuroscience, including mechanical flexibility, mixed ionic/electronic conduction, enhanced biocompatibility, and the capability for drug delivery.
This talk presents examples of organic-based devices for the stimulation and recording of brain activity, and highlights the importance of the organic material properties and their corresponding performance in the neural tissue. These organic electronic materials offer unmatched possibilities for device design to advance the understanding of neurophysiology and pathophysiology, and to create a new generation of therapeutic devices.

Adam Williamson is a group leader at the Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), France, since April 2014. He is a recipient of the ERC Starting Grant 2016. His research is currently focused on in vitro and in vivo applications for organic electronics in physiological and pathophysiological neuronal networks. This is part of a partnership between INS and Prof. George Malliaras (the Department of Bioelectronics, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, France).

Selected Papers related to the talk:
– Jonsson A*; Inal S*; Uguz I*; Williamson A*; Kergoat L; Rivnay J; Khodagholy D; Berggren M; Bernard C; Malliaras G; Simon D (2016). Bioelectronic neural pixel: Chemical stimulation and electrical sensing at the same site, PNAS 113 (34) 9440-9445
– Williamson A; Ferro M; Leleux P; Ismailova E; Kaszas A; Doublet T; Quilichini P; Rivnay J; Rózsa B; Katona G; Bernard C; Malliaras G (2015). Localized Neuron Stimulation with Organic Electrochemical Transistors on Delaminating Depth Probes, Adv Mater., 27, 30, 4405-4410
– Rivnay J; Leleux P; Ferro M; Sessolo M; Williamson A; Koutsouras D; Khodagholy D; Ramuz M; Strakosas X; Owens R; Benar C; Badier J; Bernard C; Malliaras G (2015). High Performance Transistors for Bioelectronics Through Tuning of Channel Thickness, Science Advances, 1, 4.
– Williamson A; Rivnay J; Kergoat L; Jonsson A; Inal S; Uguz I; Ferro M; Ivanov A; Sjöström T; Simon D; Berggren M; Malliaras G; Bernard C (2015). Controlling Epileptiform Activity with Organic Electronic Ion Pumps, Adv Mater., 27(20):3138-44