CBET-EPSRC: Hybrid organic-CMOS devices for optogenetic stimulation and lens-free fluorescence imaging of the brain

这项由哥伦比亚大学的谢泼德博士和来自英国的国际研究团队合作提出的建议，将开发一种光学成像方法来研究行为自由的动物，甚至可能是人类。该提案探索了克服目前大脑功能成像障碍的原创性和变革性方法。如果成功，该项目开发的平台将对许多研究项目至关重要，这些研究项目将进一步了解大脑的功能以及各种脑部疾病的机制。该方法建立在开发嵌入到超窄可植入神经探针上的发射器和探测器的密集3D网格的基础上。该建议包括3个目标，包括(1)开发完全集成的高密度光遗传刺激器，(2)开发无晶状体神经元记录的时间门控荧光检测，以及(3)该系统的体外和体内表征和验证。这项工作包括教育和外联活动，包括将教育材料纳入哥伦比亚大学和圣安德鲁斯大学的神经科学、生物电子学和生物光子学课程。

This collaborative proposal by Dr. Shepard from Columbia University and an international team of researchers from the UK, will develop an optical imaging approach to study freely-behaving animals and potentially humans. The proposal explores original and transformative approaches for overcoming current barriers of functional imaging of the brain. If successful, the platform developed by this project will be critical to many research projects, which will further understanding of the functioning of the brain as well as various brain disease mechanismsThe approach builds on the development of a dense 3D lattice of emitters and detectors embedded onto ultra-narrow implantable neural probes. The proposal includes 3 aims comprising (1) the development of fully integrated high-density optogenetic stimulators, (2) development of time-gated fluorescence detection of lens-free neuronal recordings and (3) in vitro and in vivo characterization and validation of the system. The work includes educational and outreach activities, including; integration of educational material into courses on neuroscience, bioelectronics and biophotonics at Columbia University and at St. Andrews.