Developing a new tool for recording and stimulating brain activity
Official title: High bandwidth all-optical electrophysiology
Funded at 3 I · NIH-11069680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool that helps scientists watch and stimulate thousands of brain cells at the same time, which could lead to amazing discoveries about how our brains work and affect our behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | 3 I NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $505,311 |
| NIH project number | 1R43MH139287-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11069680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with neurological conditions that affect brain function, such as epilepsy or neurodegenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable neurological conditions or those not experiencing significant brain activity changes may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a novel instrument that can simultaneously record the activity of thousands of neurons in the brain while also allowing for targeted stimulation of specific neurons. By combining advanced optical techniques, the project aims to enable groundbreaking experiments in neuroscience that were previously thought to be impossible. The approach utilizes genetically-encoded calcium indicators and optogenetic channels to visualize and manipulate neuronal activity in real-time. This could provide researchers with unprecedented insights into brain function and behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance our understanding of brain activity and lead to new treatments for neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While the integration of these advanced optical techniques is innovative, similar approaches in volumetric imaging and optogenetics have shown promise in preliminary studies.
Where this research is happening
-
3 I
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kilborn, Karl — 3 I
- Study coordinator: Kilborn, Karl
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.