BRAIN EAGER: Spatially-Resolved In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation and Imaging Platform

PI: Boppart, Stephen a .提案：1450829标题：BRAIN EAGER: spatial - resolved In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation and Imaging platform .意义本研究项目的成功成果将在光学科学和工程以外的神经科学领域产生广泛的影响。PI将使用植入的成像纤维束，这将使体内成像以及空间控制的光学刺激和大面积神经回路的光学反馈成为可能。目前的纤维只能不加选择地照亮大面积区域。光遗传学有望在未来的神经科学、医学和临床医学领域产生广泛的影响。这项提议的研究提供了通过控制光刺激和增强神经回路控制的特异性来产生更大影响的潜力。该项目的成果将在科学和工程界之间广泛分享，并在推广活动中在广泛的社会阶层中分享。新的成像和可视化功能将激发K-12学生思考如何使用技术来看到人们通常看不到的东西，以及我们如何发明新的方式来看待我们周围的世界并发现新的知识。外展活动将包括通过年度工程开放日活动向K-12和社区团体演示这些成像光纤束和新型光源，以及将这些技术方法整合到Boppart？本科ECE/BioE 467生物光子学和ECE/BioE 380生物医学成像课程。光遗传学是一个快速发展的领域，具有不断扩展的分子生物学技术工具包，可实现光激活开关和细胞控制，最常见的是神经元。光学科学和工程领域也取得了同样重大的进展。通过理解和利用光在光子晶体光纤（pcf）和成像光纤束中如何相互作用的物理原理，可以生成、控制和优化各种新的光学参数，用于体内光遗传刺激。在传统的体内光遗传学应用中，光通过单根多模光纤漫射照射大脑，依靠光遗传学修饰神经元的分子生物学来确定细胞和电路的特异性。这个EAGER项目将独特地开发和演示成像光纤束的使用，以及产生特定的光脉冲参数，以实现空间分辨光遗传刺激和体内神经回路成像。这些新颖的神经技术将使人们能够对行为和认知进行新的研究。

PI: Boppart, Stephen A.Proposal: 1450829Title: BRAIN EAGER: Spatially-Resolved In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation and Imaging PlatformSignificanceThe successful outcome of this research project will have a broad impact in neuroscience in addition to optical science and engineering. The PI will use implanted imaging fiber bundles that will enablein vivo imaging as well as spatially-controlled optical stimulation and optical feedback of large-area neural circuits. Current fibers only indiscriminately illuminate large-areas. Optogenetics is expected to make a broad impact in neuroscience, as well as medical science and clinical medicine in the future. This proposed research offers the potential to have an even greater impact by controlling the light stimulus and enhancing specificity in the control of neural circuits. The results of this project will be shared widely amongst the scientific and engineering communities, and also across wide segments of society in outreach activities. The new imaging and visualization capabilities will inspire K-12 students to think about how technology can be used to see things one cannot normally see, and how we can invent new ways of seeing the world around us and discovering new knowledge. Outreach activities will include demos of these imaging fiber bundles and novel light sources to K-12 and community groups throughannual Engineering Open House events, as well as integration of these technological methods in Prof. Boppart?s undergraduate ECE/BioE 467 Biophotonics and ECE/BioE 380 Biomedical Imagingcourses.Technical DescriptionOptogenetics is a rapidly developing field with an ever-expanding toolkit of molecular biologytechniques to enable light-activated switching and control of cells, most commonly neurons.Equally significant advances have occurred in optical science and engineering. By understandingand exploiting physics-based principles of how light interacts in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and within imaging fiber bundles, it is possible to generate, control, and optimize a wide range of new optical parameters for in vivo optogenetic stimulation. Traditionally in in vivo optogenetic applications, light has been sent down single multi-mode optical fibers to diffusely illuminate the brain, relying on the molecular biology of optogenetically-modified neurons for cell and circuit specificity. This EAGER project will uniquely develop and demonstrate the use of imaging fiber bundles, and the generation of specific light pulse parameters to enable spatially-resolved optogenetic stimulation and imaging of neural circuits in vivo. These novel neurotechnologies will enable new investigations underlying behavior and cognition.