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 mechanisms
The 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.
