The Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology (LIN) in Magdeburg is a leading research organization in the field of neuroscience, with expertise in the areas of learning and memory research. The institute has recently established an innovative new core facility for combinational neuroimaging. In Summer 2022, the holographic endoscopy group from Leibniz-IPHT (including the entire DeepEn start-up team) visited scientists in their laboratories at LIN for the first time to explore potential collaboration opportunities in the field of neurophotonics.
The goal of the collaboration is simple: neuroscientists can use the hair-thin holographic endoscope technology provided by neurophotonics experts from IPHT, ISI-CAS in Brno and DeepEn, to image deep brain regions with high resolution, thereby advancing our understanding of neural biology. In turn, the DeepEn, IPHT, and ISI-CAS colleagues can learn about the requirements and interests of the neuroscientist users, allowing them to enhance the endoscope technology into more valuable imaging tools that are reliable and easy to use. The interdisciplinary input will also guide future research and development efforts of the holographic endoscopy groups, enabling novel imaging techniques through one single multimode fibre probe.
The collaboration between LIN, IPHT, ISI-CAS and DeepEn has the potential to be highly productive. The institute in Magdeburg has a culture of innovation and a curiosity to try novel approaches, as demonstrated by the advanced combinational in-vivo imaging techniques utilized in its labs. These neurophotonics techniques allow researchers for example to explore learning and disease-related changes in cellular and synaptic signalling in neural networks. Interestingly, LIN has in recent years produced its own photonics spin-off start-up, Photonscore, which has successfully translated high-performing single photon counting cameras for Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM).
The compact hair-thin endoscopic imaging system developed by DeepEn neurophotonics experts has the potential to be a valuable tool for neuroscience researchers, as it enables imaging of subcortical structures while preserving the brain’s natural functions, addressing a limitation of other in-vivo microscopy methods. The collaboration, therefore, offers great potential for all participants. It presents a unique opportunity to test the compact endoscope of DeepEn under real conditions and with real users, allowing for the evaluation of the system’s performance and potential applications in various research contexts.
We, the DeepEn team, are excited to see this collaboration of strong partners intensify in the future, and we are sure that the results will be fantastic!
