MIOBAS · Method for Integrated All-Optical Biological Analysis at Scale

The advent of light-emitting sensors and light-driven actuators has profoundly transformed the fields of biology and medical science over the past three decades. These innovations enable the manipulation and monitoring of various physiological processes using light with remarkable precision in both time and space. Applications include the study of signaling and cell trafficking in healthy and malignant tissues, the unraveling of causal relationships within neural networks or the assessing the effects of pharmaceutical compounds. To fully harness the potential of these so-called optogenetic technologies, there is a pressing need to create integrated optical systems offering both 3D imaging and precise light-targeting of specific regions at scale. Within the framework of the ERC, we have successfully engineered a unique system designed for the optogenetic probing of small vertebrate brains (zebrafish larvae) at cellular resolution. Our proposal expands upon this earlier achievement, by evolving it into a versatile all-optical platform tailored for biologists and biomedical laboratories. This platform will seamlessly integrate cutting-edge optical systems with automated data analysis through artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Anticipating a vast array of applications, we envision that this platform will prove invaluable e.g. in the realms of neuroscience, developmental biology, and cancer research. Its multifaceted capabilities will empower researchers to unlock new insights and accelerate advancements in these critical scientific domains.