Panoramic, minimally invasive deep-brain imaging interface for broad neural access
Official title: Optimization of Clear Optically Matched Panoramic Access Channel Technique (COMPACT) for large-scale deep-brain neurophotonic interface
Funded at Allen Institute · NIH-11597152 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging tool in deep brain areas aims to let scientists see large brain regions at cellular detail with a tiny, minimally invasive probe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Allen Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $134,445 |
| NIH project number | 7U01NS118302-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11597152 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is a preclinical imaging technology development.
✕Less likely to help
This project does not involve patient participation or clinical trials.
What this research studies
This project develops COMPACT, a tiny, implantable glass capillary with a side-view probe that can translate and rotate to image a large volume along the implanted trajectory. It shows high-resolution imaging in deep brain regions and supports multiple imaging modes to expand the accessible tissue while keeping the footprint small. The approach has already reached a 0.5-mm probe and demonstrated mesoscopic calcium imaging in vivo, including simultaneous imaging across distributed brain regions. The work builds on prior progress to enable broader, high-quality windows into deep-brain activity for neuroscience research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tool could enable researchers to study complex brain circuits with much greater spatial coverage and resolution, potentially accelerating discoveries related to learning, memory, emotion, and neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous deep-brain imaging tools faced limited imaging volumes, and COMPACT aims to overcome these limits with successful initial in vivo demonstrations.
Where this research is happening
-
Allen Institute
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Podgorski, Kaspar — Allen Institute
- Study coordinator: Podgorski, Kaspar
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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.