Project description DEENESFRITPL A 3D laser scanner provides a new window on the brain and neural circuits Watching the brain in action is the ‘Holy Grail’ for the neuroscience community and new imaging techniques have contributed in important ways to making this possible. However, many of the biochemical and biophysical processes occuring through extended neuronal circuits take place in deep tissue on very fast time scales, making their capture and analysis even more difficult. Recently, EU-funded scientists developed a technique to visualise these processes with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. The new 3DSCAN project will support the research team in making the 3D scanning technique commercially available to the medical research community. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Understanding how the brain processes information is one of the unsolved grand challenges in science. Moreover, neurological disorders, which disrupt information processing, have an enormous societal and economic impact. Studying information processing in the brain requires measurements of signals as they flow through neural circuits. However, the 3D nature of brain circuits and the speed of information transfer makes it difficult for neuroscientists to measure their properties with sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution. During the NEUROGAIN ERC project, we developed a novel type of Acousto-Optic Lens (AOL)-based high-speed 3D laser scanner. This technology enables the focusing and scanning of a laser beam at 20-40 kHz. This scanning technology can be added to existing two-photon microscopes to enable 3D imaging of neurons and circuits with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. Moreover, it also automatically corrects for brain movement in real-time providing sharper images. This ERC PoC will facilitate commercialization of this 3D scanning technology by providing support to explore the markets in biosciences and beyond, protect the IP and facilitate early stage manufacture and assembly of AOL 3D scanners to supply biomedical researchers. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processingnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-POC - ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot Host institution UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 150 000,00 Address GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data
