Researchers at UC Davis have developed a new microscope to capture high-speed images of brain cell activity with less harm to brain tissue. The new approach could be used in research with mice to provide a clearer view of how neurons communicate in real time, leading to new insights into brain function and neurological diseases.
Erkin Şeker, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Davis, and his lab have developed a microfluidic device that allows researchers to model the neuronal communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, or CNS. It’s an essential advancement in an interdisciplinary, collaborative research initiative helmed by Şeker to understand the gut-brain axis — and eventually to improve outcomes for conditions related to the gut, like Crohn’s disease and mental health issues.
The National Science Foundation has honored four graduate students in the college of Engineering at the University of California, Davis, by admitting them into the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, or GRFP.
