The MYNERVA project at ETH Zurich restores perception to diseased feet thanks to a smart sock that combines AI and neurostimulation.

In the laboratory of Neuroengineering at ETH Zurich, an idea born from a childish curiosity has become a promise of revolution for millions of people and a “smart” sock, equipped with invisible sensors and a adaptive nerve stimulation system, is now able to restore sensitivity to diabetic feet and relieve chronic pain caused by neuropathy.

Behind this project, called MYNERVA, there is the determination of a young researcher Italian-Icelandic, Greta Preatoni, who transformed an intuition into a health device with global potential.

From the loss of sensitivity to the idea of ​​a new sense

La diabetic neuropathy is one of most common and disabling complications of diabetes: according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), affects up to 50 percent of the 560 million patients worldwide. nerve damage, in particular to sural nerve which connects the sole of the foot to the brain, causing loss of sensation, difficulty walking, and chronic pain. In many cases, the numbness leads to unnoticed injuries that degenerate into ulcers and infections, often to the point of amputation.

“The mystery of phantom pain has always fascinated me,”

says Preatoni.

“As a child, I read books about amputee rehabilitation and wondered how it was possible to feel a limb that was no longer there.”

After a degree in psychology and neuroscience, the researcher arrived at ETH, where she began collaborating with the neuroengineer Stanisa Raspopovic, between pioneers of tactile neuroprosthetics for amputees. That's where the intuition turned into a project: if it was possible to restore sensations to an artificial leg, why not do it with a foot alive but devoid of its sensation?

The sock that communicates via AI with the human brain

The device developed by MYNERVA, called “Read”, is a high-tech sock and real-time map the pressure distribution under the sole of the foot. Small sensors transmit the data to a integrated microprocessor in the edge of the fabric, which converts them into personalized electrical impulsesThese pulses are sent to electrodes sewn into the fabric, capable of directly stimulate still healthy nerves, bypassing the damaged fibers.
The result is a new language between foot and brain, artificially constructed but perceived naturally.

“The system dynamically adapts to each individual thanks to artificial intelligence,”

explains Greta.

“AI modulates stimulation based on external conditions and pace, thus optimizing comfort and safety.”

In addition to restoring perception, the device relieves neuropathic pain through the stimulation of specific nerve fibers that induce the release of analgesic neurotransmitters. In practice, the brain is “distracted” by the pain: a non-invasive approach and reduces the need for medications and related side effects.

An alternative to drugs and a bridge to prevention

According to one National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) study of 2024, diabetic neuropathy represents the leading cause of chronic non-cancer pain in the world. I pharmacological treatments, based on antidepressants and opioids, often offer partial relief and carry risks of addiction.

“Many patients are looking for non-pharmacological solutions that can be integrated into their daily lives,”

observes James Valley, co-founder of MYNERVA and postdoctoral researcher at ETH.

The project aims at break the spiral of loss of sensation and disabilityThe current version of the Leia sock is similar to a sports sock and can be managed via mobile application, making treatment accessible even outside the clinical environment.

In the Zurich laboratory, the path of MYNERVA is visible in three simple plastic boxes: they contain the evolutionary prototypes of the device, from the first rigid and wired versions to the current design, flexible, washable and wireless.

“We wanted to keep it as simple as possible,”

explains Preatoni.

“Technology must blend into everyday life, not impose itself on it.”

From the Wyss Zurich Center to the challenge of the global market

Since 2023 MYNERVA is part of the Wyss Zurich Translational Center program, the accelerator supported by the Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, which helps researchers transform academic findings into therapies ready for the market. The financial and technical support allowed the startup to overcome the prototype phase and start the process FDA approval in the United States.

In June 2025, the project received the Venture Award Grand Prize, covering the costs of patents and clinical studies. If the schedule is respected, the pilot launch The device is expected to be released in the US market in 2027, followed by a introduction in Europe and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the team has started a long-term clinical trial to verify whether the constant use of the stocking can improve walking and prevent diabetic ulcers. Scientific literature, in particular a review on “Nature Biomedical Engineering” of 2024, suggests that the continuous electrical stimulation may even promote nerve regeneration.

“It would be a dream to demonstrate that we can not only restore the sense of touch, but also regenerate nerve function,”

Greta says enthusiastically.

Empathic Innovation: Where Technology and Humanity Meet

The success of MYNERVA demonstrates how the neuroengineering applied to health can generate innovations with a strong social impact. But it also highlights the growing role of Swiss research in conjugating science and responsibility. ETH Zurich, with his spin-off ecosystem and programs of technology transfer, is today one of the most advanced centers in Europe in creating biomedical solutions based on AI and neural interfaces.

As he remembers Ralph Müller, director of Wyss Zurich,

“The new frontier of medicine is understanding how to make biological and digital systems communicate.”

Il Leia sock it is not just a hi-tech product, but a sign of the convergence between biology and technology: A everyday object that becomes a sensory prosthesis and symbol of inclusion.

In a an increasingly connected future, in which medicine approaches the body through intelligent materials, Greta Preatoni's intuition shows how innovation and compassion can literally walk together.

Greta Preatoni interviewed by the Italian Cultural Institute in Zurich

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