Projects
A Lattice Light Sheet microscope to image subcellular molecular dynamics, cellular forces, neuroimmune interactions and neuronal activity in 3D KU Leuven
All biological events, be it development, tissue homeostasis, brain and peripheral organ function, are tightly regulated by complex molecular or cellular networks. To understand how these molecules and cells operate and interact, it is best to study them in a situation that mimics their native and intact three dimensional (3D) environment as closely as possible. To understand the timing of these processes, it is crucial that we are able to ...
Assessing dimerization-based regulation of GPCRs using live-cell activity and interaction sensing in genomically-labelled neurons KU Leuven
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the eyes and ears of the cell. They are heavily implicated in cell functioning and disease. All GPCRs appear to signal via a few highly conserved pathways, raising the question of how cells maintain signaling specificity. Homo- and hetero-dimerization of GPCRs is thought to be an important regulatory mechanism, though its role remains poorly understood partly due to conflicting experimental results.
...KUL - Study of the dimerization-based GPCR regulation via live-cell activity and interaction imaging in genomic labeled neurons Ghent University
Effect of optogenetic modification of neural activity in the frontal eye field and the lateral intraparietal area of the macaque monkey. KU Leuven
It has long been the ultimate dream for neuroscientists to take control of specific neurons within a neural circuit. With the advent of optogenetics this was achieved. Optogenetics is a neuromodulation technique that combines genetics and optics to control the activity of individual neurons in freely moving animals. First, neurons are reengineered so that they react to light. Light-sensitive ion-channels (opsins) are expressed in the ...
Imaging neural activity at the cellular- and network-levels by optically detected diamond spin-magnetometers and nanoparticle FRET sensors Hasselt University
Mapping behaviorally salient neural activity in the superior colliculus and the subcortical networks guiding innate behaviors. KU Leuven
How visual information is processed by the brain to orient our attention and guide behavior is central to our understanding of sensory – motor transformations. Transgenic mouse models together with molecular and genetic tools and high-throughput recording techniques have allowed us to start to understand how local brain circuits and their direct projections are organized to integrate sensory information and guide behavior. However, these ...
Imaging neural activity at the cellular- and network-levels by optically detected diamond spin-magnetometers and nanoparticle FRET sensors. University of Antwerp
Optical measurement of neural activity in vivo and with (sub)cellular resolution. KU Leuven
Brain function arises from highly interconnected networks of cells. To study networks with overview and detail, this infrastructure exploits new optical techniques which scan cells with a laser. We study how neurons:
- process sounds
- adapt functionally and morphologically to changes