Exploring photonics for neuroscience
The TinyBrains workshop, celebrated in the context of the “Hands-on course on MINDLAB”, brought together students and experts to explore advanced photonics technologies aiming to train the next generation of neuroscience researchers.
The course, organized by ICFO, provided a comprehensive look at brain research. Designed to train the next generation of neuroscience researchers, it gave an interdisciplinary approach to brain science, spanning molecular to systemic levels. The event featured lectures by researchers and invited speakers, paired with hands-on lab sessions. Participants joined one of the organizing research groups and attended master classes during the week, visiting the state-of-the-art labs, and working with super-resolution microscopes and neurophotonics devices.
Attendees included students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers from national and international institutions with diverse scientific backgrounds. Maddi Olaetxea, a fourth-year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology student at the University of the Basque Country, spent the week with the Medical Optics group, learning about non-invasive monitoring. “There were certain concepts that I thought I understood, yet they were limited to a mere concept or theoretical level”, she comments, saying she wasn’t sure what to expect but was not disappointed. “This experience has given me the opportunity to put these contents into practice.”
“Working with the researchers at the SLN facility has been a fantastic experience”, says Núria Camarero, a postdoctoral researcher at IBEC. “We have been able to see first-hand the capabilities of this equipment in studying neuronal activity in in-vivo models, and these tools will be useful in my work, especially for analysing the data”.
Monitoring the brain of neonates
A highlight of the course was the TinyBrains workshop. At the opening session Jennifer Lynch, a neonatal cardiologist, discussed how innovative optical techniques can improve outcomes, emphasizing the need for better neuromonitoring tools, as current methods cannot predict brain injury risks effectively. Prof. Martin Lauritzen presented his team’s research on neurotransmitter transport across the blood-brain barrier, explaining how they use advanced imaging techniques in mice to understand these mechanisms. Finally, Prof. Ilias Tachtsidis, part of the TinyBrains Scientific Advisory Board, shared his research on near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring brain physiology in clinical settings.
The course also featured a sponsor’s exhibition, where companies showcased their products and engaged with attendees. TinyBrains had a dedicated space to showcase the technology and interact with students, answering their questions. PhD student at ICFO and TinyBrains researcher Georgina Tresanchez introduced the project and presented the most recent advancements during the sponsors’ session, and Miguel Ángel Moreno, KTT project manager at TinyBrains, introduced the Barcelona Medical Photonics Network.
“The most valuable thing this experience has given me is motivation. As a final-year student, it has helped me explore and discover different fields, which has encouraged and motivated me to continue studying”, says Olaetxea, recommending the experience to university students. “I wish I had the chance to attend a workshop like this when I was studying Pharmacy!” concludes Camarero.
