PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 101

Description

Project Summary Abstract Physical Sciences Inc PSI and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign UIUC propose to develop and commercialize an affordable optogenetics two photon P imaging instrument that will enable simultaneous manipulation and recording of neuronal activity in genetically modified animals The goal of this project is to bring this highly desirable tool into the hands of neuroscientists and expand their capability for investigating and deciphering neural circuits underpinning complex brain function and behavior Currently the access of neuroscientists to this technology is profoundly limited because of both high cost which is often beyond the affordability of neuroscience researchers and difficulty of use on live animals bench top mounted microscope platforms are cumbersome for in vivo brain studies involving living animals To reach this goal PSI will use innovative technologies including dispersion compensated laser delivery through a fiber cord coherent supercontinuum SC generation in a photonic crystal fiber that enables the use of multiple excitation wavelengths selected for optimal excitation of calcium sensitive fluorescent proteins and beam control with spatial light modulators etc The achievement of this goal will be supported by the expertise and a proven track record of developing the next generation biomedical devices of the investigators from PSI as well as the engineering and neuroscience expertise of the leading research groups at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Project Narrative The purpose of this proposed research is to develop a versatile and affordable optogenetics two photon imaging instrument for in vivo brain studies This portable and affordable instrument will facilitate cutting edge research which will continue to unveil the complex function of the human brain