East China Normal University (ECNU) established the Shanghai Institute of Brain Functional Genomics in 2002. Brain Functional Genomics presents a new multidisciplinary field that aims to study the function of genes and their dynamical interactions through systematic analyses at molecular, physiological and behavioral levels in both genetically modified and unmodified animals.

Recently, the Institute of Brain Functional Genomics purchased several Multichannel Acquisition Processor (MAP) Systems for neural signal acquisition and analysis research on Alzheimer's disease. The hope is that this neuroelectronic system will accelerate the acquisition of neural data, enabling researchers to understand the gene mutation responsible for the early onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Plexon, the manufacturer of the MAP system supplies tools for basic brain and nervous system communication research, neural biosensors for drug and environmental screening, brain machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics for the growing neurotechnology industry. Plexon's current customers include over 250 domestic and international academic research labs, research hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.

As I've mentioned before, China's growing mental health care crisis is driving it to leverage the latest neurotechnologies. This is just one of the latest examples.