Neurophotometry system: a cost-efficient, versatile tool for behavioural circuits analyses

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This applications requests for funds to be able to install an in vivo neurophotometry workstation system at the Psychology Department of Memorial University. This integrated system will consist of a fiber photometry core equipment and an additional optogenetics add-on. The system is a cutting-edge development in neurophysiology and behavioural circuits analyses. It allows for the real-time, high-resolution, in vivo monitoring of electrical activity on different neuronal compartments – cell body, dendrites and axons – and along discrete pathways and circuits. The optogenetics component allows for the controlled stimulation or inhibition of genetically distinct cell types, whereas fiber photometry makes it possible to detect calcium signals from emission wavelengths of calcium indicators as quantified measures of neural cell activity. This system has a great advantage over standard electrophysiological techniques because it allows for the identification and manipulation of genetically distinct neuronal subtypes and associated neural pathways and circuits. It is also cost-effective, portable and simple to operate. The requested system will be used as the centerpiece research module in my laboratory (applicant: Dr. Francis R. Bambico) to support my on-going NSERC DG-funded research program in stress neurobiology, for which the main goal is to identify the molecular substrates along the prefrontocortical - serotonergic raphe circuit that mediate stress controllability and predictability mechanisms, in a rodent model. The system will also enrich the NSERC-funded research programs of the Neuroscience faculty of the department (six other member users: Drs. Darlene Skinner, Dr. Jaqueline Blundell, Dr. Christina Thorpe, Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant, Dr. Susan Walling and Dr. Ian Webb), as well as projects of other Neuroscience investigators in other departments (Dr. Mark Berry, biochemistry; Dr. Qi Yuan and Dr. Matthew Parsons, Faculty of Medicine). In addition to strengthening our research programs and for the training of HQP (graduate students and undergraduate honours projects), the requested equipment will be in routine use for teaching and instruction for our undergraduate and graduate curricular courses in neuroscience techniques, research experience, directed studies and SURA/USRA-associated activities.**