Workshop #1

Technical Workshop – Optical imaging methods for detecting electrical activity in the living brain

A one-day technical workshop – Optical imaging methods for detecting electrical activity in the living brain will be held at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS in Warsaw on September 3, 2015.

This technical workshop is an accompanying event to the 12th Polish Neuroscience Society Congress.

Scope of the workshop: The workshop will provide an overview of optical imaging methods used to record brain activity i.e. intrinsic signal imaging, flavo-protein fluorescence based imaging, and voltage sensitive dye based optical imaging. Their integration with neurophysiological tools and modern optogenetics will be discussed. A critical comparison of limitations and advantages relative to calcium imaging and imaging based on genetically engineered probes will be included. The workshop will consist of theoretical and practical sessions, the later for those who are interested. The speaker is Prof. Amiram Grinvald from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, a pioneer of optical imaging of brain activity and a world leading scientist in this area (weizmann.ac.il).

Time: The workshop will be from 09:00 until approximately 16:00, September 3, 2015.

Venue: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Pasteur 3, 02-093 Warsaw

Registration: Registration to the PNS conference is not required. The workshop is free of charge and open to both PNS members and non-members. To register for the workshop, please fill in and return the application form to k.zeber@nencki.gov.pl before Sunday, August 21, 2015. Travel grants, accommodation, meals and refreshments will not be provided, however, a cafeteria is nearby.

Organizers:

• Wioletta Waleszczyk (Nencki Institute, Warsaw, Poland)
• Katarzyna Żeber (Nencki Institute, Warsaw, Poland)

Programme:

• 9.00 – 13.00 Theoretical lectures (Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, seminar room, first floor) :
• 9.00 – 10.30 Optical imaging of intrinsic signals. What is it good for? (Intrinsic Signal Imaging (ISI), Flavo-Protein fluorescence imaging and their integration with neurophysiological tools)
• 10.30 – 11.00 Tea break
• 11.00 – 12.15 Voltage Sensitive Dye (VSD) based optical imaging
• 12.15 – 12.30 Tea break
• 12.30 – 13.00 Advantages and limitation relative to Calcium imaging and imaging based on genetically engineered probes
• 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch break
• 14. 00 – 16.00 Practical session (Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Neurobiology of Vision Laboratory, room 012, ground floor)

The practical session will provide a brief overview (20 min.) of optical imaging methods using a brain phantom and will be held for small groups of up to 8 interested participants. Participation will be limited to only those who express an interest in the practical part in their registration form.

If you have any questions, please contact: Katarzyna Żeber (k.zeber@nencki.gov.pl).

You are welcome to this exciting event,
Wioletta Waleszczyk

Workshop #2

Dear Colleagues,

The next day after this year’s PTBUN Congress we will hold a one-day satellite workshop on electrophysiology and neuroengineering (September 9th, 2015): www.neuroinflab.wordpress.com.

This will be the closing event of the NAMASEN MC ITN grant. The workshop will include participants of the grant consortium (www.namasen.net). This is to be an opportunity for the students of NAMASEN to present the final results of their work in the grant combined with presentation of outstanding speakers from outside consortium. The workshop will be free and open to everybody with priority to PTBUN Congress attendees.

Confirmed keynote speakers are Upinder Bhalla from Bangalore, Pawel Hottowy from Krakow, and Miles Whittington from York.

If interested to participate, please register by July 28th: www.neuroinflab.wordpress.com.

See you in Gdansk in September and have a good summer.

Daniel Wojcik