Soheil Mojiri (ESR 1)
Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
Light-sheet stochastic optical fluctuation microscopy
There have been introduced many techniques in recent decades for super-resolution microscopy in order to achieve the resolution beyond the diffraction limit of light and development in biomedical imaging. Super resolution optical fluctuation microscopy (SOFI) is amongst the most useful of these methods and converts in a very clever way temporal intensity fluctuations of fluorescent labels into an enhanced spatial resolution of imaging. In this project, we decide to combine SOFI with multi-plane imaging, allowing for simultaneous 3-D microscopy with highest temporal and spatial resolution of live cells.
Adrià Escobet (ESR 2)
University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK.
Light-sheet microscopy with Airy beams
This project focuses on different microscopy techniques capable of achieving optical sectioned wide field images with low phototoxicity. In the first stages of the project, Temporal Focusing Microscopy will be used to image through strongly scattering media. In this technique, an ultrashort excitation pulse is compressed as it propagates through the sample reaching its shortest duration at the focal plane. In this way, multiphoton excitation can be confined to a single plane without scanning. Later, Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy will be combined with beam shaping (Bessel and Airy beams) to obtain high-resolution images with large fields of view. The final goal of the project is to develop a sophisticated Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscope designed to image biological samples with high spatiotemporal resolution. Some of its main applications may include imaging of neuronal networks and developing embryos.
Mariano Gonzalez Pisfil (ESR 3)
PicoQuant Innovations GmBH, Berlin, Germany.
Advanced Nanoscale Microscopy: Time-Resolved Super-Resolution Fluorescence Studies of Biological Structures
The project aims at exploring novel strategies based on pulsed excitation and nanosecond time-resolved detection to allow multiplexed and super-resolved studies of complex biological dynamics and structures. For these means, different pulsed excitation schemes and fluorescence decay based pattern recognition will be combined and optimised to separate multiple labels also in super-resolution microscopy. Promising dye labels will be screened and characterised. The optimal sample preparation and experimental conditions will be identified starting from artifical model systems up to final cell studies, to be performed with collaborating partners.
Vineesh Kappadan (ESR 4)
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization.
Göttingen, Germany.
Multi-modal fluorescence imaging of contracting intact hearts
This project aims to analyse simultaneously electrical and mechanical activity of a beating heart using optical imaging technologies. Langendorff-perfused intact hearts will be used to map parameters such as voltage, calcium and strain. Motion tracking techniques will be used to effectively reduce motion artifacts present in imaging data acquired with multiple imaging modalities.
Raul Quiñonez Uribe (ESR 5)
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization.
Göttingen, Germany.
Imaging and analysis tools for optogenetic cardiac electrophysiology
Optogenetics is a recent technique used to photo-sensitize biological systems (cells, tissues, organs) in order to control a specific function of this system with light. In optogenetics, biological systems are transfected with exogenous genes that can be target specific and code for light-sensitive proteins. In cardiac optogenetics, a light sensitive ion channel, Channelrhodopsin 2, is used to induce action potential in cardiomyocytes. The aim of this project is the development of a imaging and data processing system for optogenetic cardiac electrophysiology.
Setegn Ayalew (ESR 6)
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Multiphoton confocal imaging applied to cardiac myocardium.
In this project, we aim to improve the collection of emitted fluorescent light from heart tissue during multiphoton excitation. The distortion of optical path of the excitation light due to different refractive indices of the tissue will be examined. Moreover, changes to the optical system will be implemented in order to compensate the distortion created by refractive index mismatch.
Michał Hamkało (ESR 7)
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.
Long-depth-range OCT for structural and functional cardiac imaging
Cardiac disease is a most significant cause of mortality worldwide, due to this fact every new method of heart problem diagnosis is very valuable. In this project, we will focus on development of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for heart tissue imaging. OCT is already well-known tool for eye imaging used in hospitals around the world. However, the heart tissue (or the whole heart organ) is much more challenging for testing. This challenge can be solved with use of a modern generation of wavelength-tunable light sources. During next three years the new swept-source OCT will be designed, built and optimized for heart imaging, in order to investigate both the reaction of the tissue in response to electrical stimulation and hemodynamics of a heart. We believe that the research will bring a new insight into biology of a cardiac tissue.
Tommaso Alterini (ESR 8)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Hyperspectral imaging system for the dynamic recording of the ocular fundus
The purpose of this project is the development of a novel fast hyperspectral imaging system based on Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to investigate both the spatial and the spectral properties of the ocular fundus. In order to achieve high temporal and spatial resolution in recording the ocular fundus dynamics and follow-up of ocular diseases, it will be designed, characterized and clinically experimented a technological cutting edge retinal imaging system coupled with a multiplexed illumination that take advantage of the particular characteristics of LEDs. Moreover with a consistently broader multispectral band, in respect to the present state of the art techniques, this system will definetely allow the detection and monitoring of eye diseases affecting the retina such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma from an uninvestigated point of view.
Ana Rodriguez (ESR 9)
Institut de Microcirurgia Ocular (IMO), Barcelona, Spain.
OCT system for vision evaluation in a fully autonomous and automatic way
The project deals with the integration of an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) system into an instrument for visual performance diagnosis by using fully autonomous and automatic registers. The starting point is a prototype already built by the UPC which includes an eye-tracker and a Head Mounted Display (HMD) based system that allows the examination of visual functions/diagnostics and therapy procedures through an automatic and autonomous process meanwhile the patient watches a 3D videogame. A new compact and cheap OCT that can be incorporated to this device and capable of retinal and anterior segment assessment will be developed.
Alfonso Jiménez (ESR 10)
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.
Ophthalmic imaging using multimodal OCT and confocal scanning set-up with non-diffracting beam
Donatus Halpaap (ESR 11)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Incoherent light sources for speckle reduction in ocular imaging
The aim of this project is to develop a light source for speckle reduction in ocular imaging. A double pass system permits to objectively determine the optical quality of the eye, including the measurement of higher order aberrations and intraocular scattering. This is done by imaging a point source on the retina and examining the image of the reflected light after double pass through the ocular media. This technique is prone to speckle patterns superimposing the actual image. A typical method to overcome this problem is to incorporate a vibrating mirror in the system in combination with an appropriate integration time of the detector. By employing a spatially incoherent laser with well adapted properties, speckle patterns could be strongly reduced without the necessity of mechanical moving components, while offering the required power and directionality of the beam. Such a laser will be developed based on a semiconductor light source and integrated into the double pass system.
Antu Nehuen Gortari(ESR 12)
Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France.
Nanostructured substrates for high resolution imaging
The objective of this project is the design, fabrication and analysis of nanostructured substrates to achieve improved spatial resolution in fluorescence microscopy. Both 1D Bragg mirrors made of dielectric materials (TiO2, SiO2) and 2D patterned surfaces based on either passive (dielectric) or active (semiconductor) materials such as GaN will be sought. In particular, we will explore the capabilities of these nanostructured substrates for strong axial excitation confinement of biomolecules such as GFP (Green fluorescent protein), in the range of 100 nm in depth, as it can be typically achieved by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. These molecules are often used as fluorescent markers, key components of many of the most important techniques to obtain medical and biological images, and the ability to optically localize them it's a fundamental step to allow for improved imaging at the nanoscale level.
Shun Qin (ESR 13)
Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
Advanced image deconvolution techniques for super-resolution microscopy
Pablo Amil(ESR 14)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Novel methods for the characterisation and classification of complex images
This project aims to the development of new methods for the classification of biomedical images. Various complexity indicators will be used as new features for classification of such images using machine learning techniques. Symbolic analysis, graph analysis, and principal component analysis are the first techniques tested and preliminary results are shown in this document. Especial focus is placed in different ocular images of patients with glaucoma