Objective Optogenetics are used to activate or silence specific sets of neurons, intracellular signaling pathways, or to examine brain structure at an unprecedented detail. The only optogenetic approach lagging behind all others is the genetically encoded optical monitoring of multi-neuronal activity at a time resolution of single action potentials. Such ultrafast (<1 ms) resolution is important to understand network function in healthy and diseased nervous systems because timing of neuronal firing and synchrony are the foremost determinants of brain function. Techniques exist to measure membrane voltage and/or cellular activity using optical probes, but all have drawbacks either in their genetic targeting, optical sensitivity and/or temporal resolution. Recent developments using genetically encoded hybrid voltage sensor (GEVOS) methodology showed that this approach has an excellent potential to become an ultrafast voltage sensing system. The GEVOS technique can easily be adapted to work with multiple colors simultaneously, thus recording the activities of genetically distinct cell types in the same preparation. The overall objective of this proposal is to advance the GEVOS method so that it can be used with multiple colors simultaneously in at least two different genetically targetable cell types. Two major advances are sought after in this proposal: a technical/ methodological innovation (improve upon the GEVOS technique and extend it to two fluorescent proteins) and a scientific vision. The latter relates to gaining insights into the parallel functioning of local microcircuits and the optical recording of the concurrent behavior of pre- and postsynaptic elements during GABAergic inhibition. These studies will advance high temporal resolution optical voltage sensing (the other side of optogenetics) and will provide an unprecedented look at the functioning of cortical microcircuits with their specific components monitored at the same time.. Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineering Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS5 - ERC Advanced Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Call for proposal ERC-2013-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM BONN Address Venusberg-campus 1 53127 Bonn Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Beate Becker (Ms.) Principal investigator Istvan Mody (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 3 437 138,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM BONN Germany EU contribution € 3 437 138,00 Address Venusberg-campus 1 53127 Bonn See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Beate Becker (Ms.) Principal investigator Istvan Mody (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window
