The brain’s extracellular space (ECS) is a dynamic microenvironment that critically regulates neuronal signaling, molecular diffusion, and homeostasis. Despite its importance, the ECS remains poorly understood because current imaging methods cannot capture its nanoscale structure or dynamics across intact brain tissue. This knowledge gap limits our understanding of fundamental brain function and how extracellular processes contribute to neurological disorders.
NeuroExcell addresses this challenge by applying Super-resolution Shadow Imaging (SUSHI)—a breakthrough technique enabling direct visualization of the ECS at nanometer resolution in entire mouse brain hemispheres. The project will produce the first comprehensive nanoscale maps of the ECS, revealing how its structure and dynamics vary across brain regions and how they relate to extracellular matrix composition and protein distribution. Live-tissue imaging will further uncover how ECS organization influences diffusional processes and neuronal signaling.
By combining advanced fluorescence imaging, electrophysiology, computational modeling, and biochemistry, NeuroExcell will uncover the physiological roles of the ECS with unprecedented detail.
The project’s impact will be twofold. Scientifically, it will fill a critical gap in current brain maps, offering a new framework for understanding intercellular communication and glymphatic function. Technologically, it will establish SUSHI as a powerful tool for large-scale super-resolution imaging in living tissue. Beyond scientific advances, NeuroExcell aligns with European priorities in brain health and innovation, contributing to new strategies for tackling neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. The project will also strengthen the researcher’s independence and leadership through advanced training in a multidisciplinary environment, fostering long-term excellence in neuroscience research.
