Nicolò Accanto — principal investigator of the Nonlinear Photonics for Neuroscience group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), — has been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept Grant. These prestigious grants are awarded by the European Research Council (ERC) to explore the commercial and social potential of research projects that have previously received ERC funding. Applicants use this funding to verify the practical feasibility of scientific concepts, explore business opportunities or prepare patent applications.
Led by Nicolò Accanto, the NeuroBRIDGE project aims to transform two-photon microscopy — an essential neuroscientific technique for visualising and manipulating neuronal activity in vivo with cellular resolution. Currently, most two-photon microscopes cannot be used to study neural circuits during natural behavioural tasks.
To overcome this barrier, Accanto and his team have developed a miniaturised, fibre-optic-based microscope that enables high-resolution studies to be conducted under free-moving conditions. With NeuroBRIDGE, IBEC's Nonlinear Photonics for Neuroscience team is seeking to turn this innovation into a widely compatible, accessible product.
Project objectives include designing modules compatible with a wide variety of commercial microscopes, validating their adaptability in different laboratories and infrastructures, and demonstrating their usefulness through experiments in natural behavioural paradigms.
This technology will enable existing microscopes to be transformed into platforms for free-moving studies, greatly expanding the range of possible experiments and opening up new opportunities for understanding the brain and neurological disorders.
“Advancing our understanding of the brain is not just about creating powerful technologies; it's about making them accessible. NeuroBRIDGE seeks to remove barriers and unlock new possibilities for neuroscience laboratories worldwide,” states Accanto.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.'
This work is supported by ERC (NeuroBRIDGE, 101284650).