Parkinson’s disease: a growing global health challenge.

World Parkinson’s Day, observed each year on April 11, raises awareness of Parkinson’s disease and the broader impact of neurodegenerative disorders worldwide.

As populations age, these diseases represent an increasing burden for healthcare systems, with significant unmet medical needs in both therapeutic development and early detection.

Despite decades of research, progress remains limited by a fundamental challenge:
the difficulty of accurately modeling human neuronal function.

A historical foundation in neuroscience.

At NETRI, neuroscience is not just one application area — it is the foundation of the company.

Originating from more than a decade of research in neuro-engineering and microfluidics, NETRI was built with the ambition to develop functional human neuronal models capable of overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches.

From the beginning, the focus has been on one key principle:
measuring function rather than structure.

This principle is particularly critical in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, where early alterations often occur at the functional level before structural damage becomes apparent.

“Neurons as a Sensor”: capturing functional alterations.

NETRI’s core technology, “Neurons as a Sensor” (NaaS™), transforms human neuronal networks into functional biological sensors.

By measuring electrophysiological activity, the platform enables:

• Detection of subtle changes in neuronal function
• Quantification of drug-induced effects
• Identification of neurotoxicity signals
• Mechanistic insights into disease processes

This functional approach provides a more integrated and human-relevant readout compared to conventional models.

Improving predictivity in neurodegenerative research.

In the context of Parkinson’s disease, predictive models are essential to:

• Identify relevant therapeutic targets
• Screen compounds more efficiently
• Reduce late-stage clinical failures

NETRI’s microphysiological systems allow the reconstruction of human neuronal environments, enabling a more accurate assessment of how neurons respond under pathological or pharmacological conditions.

This contributes to bridging the gap between preclinical research and clinical outcomes.

From drug discovery to functional diagnostics.

Beyond therapeutic development, functional neuronal models open new avenues in diagnostics.

In a recent publication in Nature, NETRI demonstrated that its brain-on-chip platform can functionally discriminate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from Alzheimer’s patients.

This study highlights a key concept:
neuronal activity can serve as a sensitive and integrative biomarker of disease state.

Such approaches could, in the future, complement existing diagnostic tools by providing:

• Functional signatures of disease
• Early detection of pathological changes
• Improved patient stratification

Conclusion.

On World Parkinson’s Day, it is essential to recognize that progress in neurodegenerative diseases depends on our ability to better understand human neuronal function.

At NETRI, this vision is embedded in the company’s DNA — from its origins in neuro-engineering to the development of advanced microphysiological systems.

By transforming neurons into functional sensors, NETRI contributes to a new generation of tools for predictive research and future diagnostic applications, supporting more effective and timely interventions for patients.

Your perspective matters in shaping the future of research.
If you are a patient or part of a patient community, we would be glad to connect and exchange.