Research Lines

3P neuronal imaging

In this research line we took advantage of three-photon fluorescence microscopy (3PFM) to extend the access to neuronal activity information at deeper structures of the brain.

All-optical electrophysiology (mice and zebrafish)

The use of light to stimulate and readout neuronal activity has several advantages, such as the noninvasiveness and the possibility to target with high spatial and temporal precision specific groups of neurons.

Anatomical mapping of neuronal activity in zebrafish larvae during epileptic seizures and in response to chromatic visual stimuli

We make use of multi-modal optical imaging techniques to perform the functional mapping of zebrafish larvae physiological and pathological brain activity.

Biomedical Imaging and Spectroscopy

In this research line different imaging and spectroscopic methods are used to investigate the relation between morphology and molecular content in biological tissues, both in healthy and pathological condition in in-vivo and ex-vivo samples.

Cardiac Imaging

The Cardiac Imaging Group at LENS is developing and setting-up innovative imaging methodologies to increase the understanding of cardiac physiology.

Fast volumetric imaging (zebrafish)

This research line is dedicated to the development of experimental approaches for high-speed volumetric imaging and to their application to answer biologically-relevant questions.

Large volumetric mapping with light-sheet microscopy (mice and human)

We leverage the intrinsic optical sectioning, high contrast and direct fast 2D image recording of confocal light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (CLSFM) to obtain with cellular resolution three-dimensional reconstructions of large intact neuronal networks for an improved understanding of the mice and human brain structure.

Machine learning techniques for image processing

High-throughput microscopy techniques, such as light-sheet imaging, generate huge amounts of data, often in the TeraBytes range. The challenge then becomes to manage these images and extract semantically relevant information from the raw data (a large matrix of grayscale values).

Mesoscale functional imaging in awake mice (head-fixed and freely moving)

We are interested in how the brain processes and integrates information at the cortical level over multiple areas to produce behavioral responses and how these processes are altered in pathological conditions.

Molecular and Cellular Mechanobiology

The Molecular and Cellular Mechanobiology research line is focused on the mechanisms underlying mechanical regulation of biological systems. Cellular and molecular forces have emerged to play a fundamental role in a wide array of biological processes.

Molecular basis of neurodegenerative pathologies

This research line is devoted at applying advanced microscopy techniques and imaging approaches based on fluorescence to tackle the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuronal activation mapping with immediate early genes

Visualizing the neuronal circuits underlying specific behaviors is a formidable technical challenge in mammalian brains. Indeed, in vivo measurements are often limited to brain surface, or – in the case of electrodes or optical fibers – to small volumes. An alternative strategy is to map neuronal activity by observing the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs).

Nanosensing

Nanosensing research line aims at developing novel multifunctional optical sensors enabling for smart applications in chemical and biological sensing through the molecular screening of samples with improved sensitivity towards selective analytes.

Slow wave activity

Slow-wave oscillatory activity is critical for several fundamental processes from general brain homeostasis to memory consolidation. Further, there is increasing evidence in support of SW activity alterations in different brain diseases.

Super-resolution Imaging

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques have become increasingly popular over the last decade, owing to the fact that they allow investigators to resolve details orders of magnitude smaller than the optical resolution limit, without having to resort to methods such as electron or scanning probe microscopy techniques.

Tissue Biomechanics

The Tissue Biomechanics research targets the morphology, composition and biomechanics of biological tissues, trying to correlate the molecular and ultrastructural behavior with the properties observed at a macroscopic level.

Two Photon structural and functional imaging

We exploit the high-resolution and penetration depth achievable with Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy (TPFM) to perform both structural and functional analysis on different animal models, and mesoscopic reconstruction of human brain tissue.