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Miniature, integrated and mass-producible fluorescence microscopes for in vivo brain imaging in freely behaving rodents

Award Number: R44MH095332
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/24/2016
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2019

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Miniature, integrated and mass-producible fluorescence microscopes for in vivo brain imaging in freely behaving rodents - Project Summary There is increasing awareness that aberrant neural circuit activity is a core manifestation of many neuropsychiatric diseases, including autism, schizophrenia, depression and Alzheimer's disease. This realization has opened tantalizing prospects for more powerful and precise therapeutic approaches based on retuning of abnormal circuit activity. However, we still lack crucial understanding of neural activity patterns during normal behavior and how these patterns are altered in disease. Many rodent models of human brain diseases are now available, but neuroscientists are still hindered by lack of a technology for visualizing activity in large populations of genetically identified neurons in the brains of behaving animal subjects. Inscopix, Inc. spun out of Stanford University to commercialize a miniature fluorescence microscope technology that lets neuroscientists visualize Ca2+ dynamics in up to 1200 neurons simultaneously in awake, behaving rodents at cellular resolution. The microscope is easily carried on the head of a mouse or rat, and enables continuous recording from the same group of neurons in a single animal for periods of days to weeks. Used in conjunction with genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators and our custom-designed optical microendoscope probes, the microscope enables targeting of predefined neuronal subpopulations, and entry to brain regions inaccessible to other large-scale recording technologies. In Phase I, we developed and validated a new version of the microscope that is substantially higher performing and more robust than the original Stanford prototype. Around it we built the nVista imaging system: an end-to-end solution for in vivo brain imaging that includes the miniature microscope with an integrated HD camera and electronics, and user-friendly data acquisition hardware and software. The nVista system has now been disseminated for beta testing to over 100 labs around the globe. This Phase II project will move the nVista system forward in its next steps towards marketing to the general neuroscience community, through the following aims. (1) Create a next-generation version of the nVista system for commercial dissemination. Making use of feedback from early adopters, we will refine the system's design for greater performance, reliability and ease of use, by incorporating an electronic focusing mechanism, enabling higher speed data acquisition and seamless interfacing with other data collection systems; (2) Extend the technology to rats by developing an accessory array for the nVista microscope that includes a new base plate attachment mechanism, protective head-mounted cone and cable sheathing, optical probes, and an optical data link to support commutators; and (3) Develop a next-generation data analysis platform with faster processing, customizability, and better visualization tools.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2018	INSCOPIX, INC.	2462 EMBARCADERO WAY	PALO ALTO	CA	94303	SANTA CLARA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	11/4/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $1,100,465 )
2018	2018	INSCOPIX, INC.	2462 EMBARCADERO WAY	PALO ALTO	CA	94303	SANTA CLARA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	8/6/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,100,465
														Subtotal = $1,100,465

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $1,081,995 )
2017	2017	INSCOPIX, INC.	2462 EMBARCADERO WAY	PALO ALTO	CA	94303	SANTA CLARA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	12/7/2016	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$164,322
2017	2017	INSCOPIX, INC.	2462 EMBARCADERO WAY	PALO ALTO	CA	94303	SANTA CLARA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	4	8/1/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$917,673
														Subtotal = $1,081,995

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $726,188 )
2016	2016	INSCOPIX INC	2450 EL CAMINO REAL	PALO ALTO	CA	94306	SANTA CLARA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	9/24/2016	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$726,188
														Subtotal = $726,188

Grand Total All Awards = $2,908,648

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Miniature, integrated and mass-producible fluorescence microscopes for in vivo brain imaging in freely behaving rodents

Award Number: R44MH095332

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/24/2016

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2019

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