A neuroscience hub for neural circuits, open optogenetics and technology development
Latest from the Blog
AI in neuroscience research
The field of neuroscience is rapidly evolving, and with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), it has the potential to grow even faster. The use of AI in neuroscience research, particularly in preclinical academic research, can help researchers gain new insights into the complex workings of the brain, ultimately leading to new treatments and cures…
Practical uses of 3D printing in an electrophysiology lab
I have mentioned before about my 3D printer, and how useful I have found it. Today, I’ll explain some of the practical uses I’ve found for 3D printing for electrophysiology. The point is that electrophysiology equipment is both extortionately expensive and annoyingly non-compatible. So, it is often quicker, cheaper and easier to design and print…
Validating in vivo optogenetics LED systems
One of the most challenging aspects of starting in vivo optogenetics is the equipment. In particular, how do you know which optogenetics stimulation systems will work for your purpose? I’m a big fan of LED’s, because of how cheap and easy they are to use compared with lasers. However, the high degree of scattering can…
Key pages on this site
Power calculator
My optogenetics power calculator aims to provide a clear answer to the question: given your experimental parameters, what power do you need for effective stimulation?
Opto guide
My optogenetics guide covers key aspects of an in vivo optogenetics study, from planning through to analysis and troubleshooting.
Open optogenetics
Curated lists of open source equipment for optogenetics, neuroscience and behaviour.
Papers I’m Reading
Using a bistable animal opsin for switchable and scalable optogenetic inhibition of neurons
Rodgers et al. develop Lamplight, a highly sensitive inhibitory opsin that acts over long time periods with scalable responses.
High-resolution optogenetics in space and time
Ruiz et al. summarise multi-channel in vivo optogenetics systems in this Trends review.
Tether-free photothermal deep-brain stimulation in freely behaving mice
Wu et al. use a temperature sensitive channel and a compound that heats up under IR light to perform photothermogenetics.
Kit I’m looking at
In the Pipeline
Fibre-free Optogenetics
Those of you that read my blog will know I’ve developed my own fibre-free optogenetics system. My recent grant application to the NC3R’s to test it in vivo was denied, so I’m now looking for collaborators to be an early adopter of the system.
Behaviour Tracking Equipment
Check out my recent blog post about my IR beam break activity tracker. A complete setup to record from 8 mice simultaneously is available to purchase in the shop.
Possible work for Metofico
A colleague of mine started a spinout company developing software and hardware for in vivo photometry and optogenetics studies. I’ve been designing the equipment for performing animal experiments for his company.
Latest in the shop
EasyTTL Uno
CrumbleHopper
Activity monitors
Upcoming Conferences
The annual Society for Neuroscience meeting is in San Diego 12-16th November 2022.
BSN annual meeting 2023 will be held in Exeter, 4-6th September 2023.
The BNA 2023 Festival of Neuroscience is in Brighton 23-26th April 2023.
Upcoming Webinars
Archived
Wireless optogenetics in freely moving animals
29th September 2022 4-5 pm GMT
Developing prefrontal circuits, with Neurotar
16th February 2023 4-5 pm GMT
About me and the website
I am a neuroscientist with an interest in technologies that allow us to study the most complex structure we know of, the brain. With a history in mouse genetics, obesity and neuroendocrinology, I have been a postdoctoral researcher for the best part of a decade.
My driving goals in the lab are to improve how we study the brain through the use of technology, with a particular focus on optogenetics. This website and blog are my attempts at a neuroscience information hub for anyone interested in neural circuits, open optogenetics and technology development.
Links and contact info:
© NicNeuroNet April 2022