Have you ever wondered how an idea born in a university lab can transform into a life-changing invention? Meet Dr. Lukas Krainer, a physicist who completed his PhD at the prestigious ETH University in Zürich and turned his research into a thriving entrepreneurial journey. He’s the visionary behind Prospective Instruments, a company revolutionizing imaging with flexible and portable Two-Photon microscopes—an essential tool in neuroscience and clinical diagnostics. In today’s episode, we’ll explore how this innovative technology is making advanced microscopy more accessible, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and Dr. Krainer’s advice for anyone dreaming of starting their own company.

Highlights of the episode include:

🔬 What is a two-photon microscopy?

🔍 How can we use it in clinical diagnostics?

💡 The importance of flexible and portable microscopy devices.

🌟 Valuable advice for starting a company.

This podcast is supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute,the Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging" in Göttingen (MBExC) and SFB1286.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates! 🔗 https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Beatriz Apgaua

Mels Akhmetali

We are excited to introduce a brand-new series of our podcast called Challenges in Academia, where we will be exploring the challenges and hurdles faced in academia.

In this new set of videos, we’ll be talking to academics from a wide range of backgrounds about the problems we all face in science — from research pressures to funding struggles, and much more.

The goal of the new series is simple: raise awareness about these issues and, hopefully, spark conversations that lead to real solutions. It’s important to discuss these matters openly so that we can start improving the way science moves forward.

In this episode Prof. Jörg Enderlein highlights critical challenges in academia, such as underfunding, unsustainable academic career paths, and the loss of expertise caused by short-term contracts. He emphasizes the urgent need for better financial support and structural reforms to sustain universities and retain talent.

We’d love to hear from you! Share your experiences and the challenges you’ve faced as an academic in the comments below.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for exclusive content and in-depth discussions on cutting-edge science!

Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Beatriz Apgaua
Mels Akhmetali

In Episode 21 of Neuroscience and Beyond, we had the privilege of hosting Prof. Dr. Jörg Enderlein, a renowned physicist at the Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University in Göttingen. We explored the interplay between quantum mechanics and microscopy and discussed cutting-edge imaging technology advancements. 🎙️

Highlights of the episode include:
🔬 Key milestones in the development of microscopy
🔍 The relationship between spectroscopy and microscopy
💡 Revolutionary tools like Airyscan and SOFI
🌟 The scientific principles driving innovation in biophysics

Prof. Enderlein shared his remarkable journey and discussed how fundamental physics is shaping the future of imaging. This episode offers a fascinating perspective on the evolution of scientific discovery and its applications in modern research.

Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:50 - Milestones in Microscopy Development
00:04:50 - Importance of Double Slit Experiment for Microscopy
00:08:06 - Experiments on the duality of light
00:15:45 - Research of Prof. Enderlein: From Spectroscopy to Super-Resolution Microscopy
00:19:35 - Difference Between Spectroscopy and Microscopy
00:21:20 - Science Across the World
00:25:00 - Super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI)
00:33:00 - Applying Basic Physics for Improving Imaging
00:38:00 - Inspiration for Scientific Discoveries
00:40:50 - Speed and Resolution Limitations of Microscopy
00:45:10 - Interesting Story Behind Airyscan / Origins of Airyscan
00:53:40 - What is a SPAD Array?
00:57:47 - Measuring Electrical Charges in Biomolecules
01:01:50 - Imagining a Perfect Research Institute
01:07:30 - Where Will Science Take Us?

This podcast is supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute,the Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging" in Göttingen (MBExC) and SFB1286.

#Microscopy #QuantumMechanics #NeurosciencePodcast #Imaging #Biophysics

Follow us on social media for the latest updates! 🔗 https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team: Svilen Georgiev Kristina Jevdokimenko Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı Beatriz Apgaua Mels Akhmetali

Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Mateusz Ambrożkiewicz! He leads a lab at the Institute for Cell Biology and Neurobiology at Charité in Berlin, one of Europe’s largest university hospitals. Dr. Ambrożkiewicz’s lab studies how protein synthesis and degradation shape neuronal circuit assembly in a key brain region called the cortex, using advanced genetic tools and interdisciplinary approaches. His research sheds light on brain development and neurological disorders, including microcephaly, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. As a member of the prestigious FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence, Dr. Ambrożkiewicz is also helping to shape the future of neuroscience. Tune in to discover the fundamental principles of brain development and learn more about the organizations advancing this exciting field.

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, SFB_1286, as well as MBExC.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç
Sayıcı Beatriz Apgaua
Mels Akhmetali

In this episode, we’re honoured to host Prof. Dr. Ed Boyden, a pioneering neuroscientist, inventor, entrepreneur and MIT professor who is widely known for his immense contribution to life sciences, especially to the field of neuroscience. Prof. Boyden holds nearly 300 patents and leads advancements in neural technology, from optogenetics to expansion microscopy. These innovative tools are significantly advancing our understanding of the brain, and driving groundbreaking neuroscience discoveries.

We uncovered the story behind optogenetics, exploring how it began and the challenges Prof. Boyden faced in bringing this remarkable method to life. He also introduces us to expansion microscopy, a powerful technique that allows scientists to physically "expand" biological samples, achieving nanoscale precision imaging to study cellular structures and brain connectivity with unprecedented detail. We also talked about multiplex live-imaging - an innovative approach to observe cellular processes in cells and living organisms.

Don’t miss this episode for an inspiring look at revolutionary neuroscience innovations. Learn about cutting-edge technologies, their origins, and Prof. Boyden's unique perspective on advancing science and developing transformative tools.

Subscribe to our Spotify and YouTube channels for exclusive content and in-depth discussions on cutting-edge science!

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute in Göttingen, the excellence cluster 'Multiscale Bioimaging', as well as SFB1286.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/neuro_beyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosciencebeyond/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neurosciencebeyond

Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Beatriz Apgaua
Mels Akhmetali

In this episode, we have the distinct privilege of speaking with Prof. Peter Dayan, director at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany. Prof. Dayan is renowned for using methods from machine learning to understand brain function, particularly linking neurotransmitter levels to prediction errors and uncertainty. His pioneering work in reinforcement learning and co-development of the Q-learning algorithm, have shaped the field of computational neuroscience in profound ways. He is also the co-author of the highly influential textbook Theoretical Neuroscience and co-founder of the prestigious Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit. In 2012, Prof. Dayan received the Rumelhart Prize and in 2017 he was awarded the Brain Prize. On a personal note, it was truly an immense honour to sit down with such a brilliant mind like Prof. Dayan. He was incredibly kind and generous with his time, staying with me until 10:30 PM to answer all of my questions.

Join us as we explore decision making, learning, and memory from a computational perspective.

🔗link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

This podcast is supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, the Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, and the European Neuroscience Institute in Göttingen. If you want to support us, please subscribe to our channel and do not hesitate to drop us a comment under our videos.


Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Beatriz Apgaua

Mels Akhmetali

#theoretical #neuroscience #bayesian #inference #dopamine #decision #making #reinforcement #learning

Do you know how aptamers are revolutionizing brain research! How can you accurately distinguish between dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in a biological fluid filled with countless other molecules?

Join us as we explore the exciting world of aptamers with Prof. Nako Nakatsuka from the Laboratory of Chemical Nanotechnology (CHEMINA) at Neuro_X_EPFL. Nako’s pioneering research is reshaping how we detect chemicals in the brain and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

In this episode, we cover:

• The fundamentals of aptamers and their design
• Techniques for neurotransmitter detection
• The role of aptamers in brain disease
• Future applications/research directions, and more!

#Aptamers #Biosensors #Neurotransmitters #ParkinsonsDisease #MedicalResearch #EPFL #SciencePodcast #Innovation #Neuroscience #Research


Images provided by Prof. Nakatsuka and from the following references:

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/11/10/523

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300908420302637

https://mhanational.org/neurons-how-brain-communicates

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1226086X22005639

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00136/full

https://www.wzbio.com/aavZt.php?pid=1&id=4&cid=2&tid=2

https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.abf4588

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Advances-in-Scanning-Ion-Conductance-Microscopy%3A-Li-Li/3caf1595c9144033fbc00d187d7bf36f8ee7feb1

https://www.creative-biostructure.com/application-of-circular-dichroism-spectroscopy-in-nucleic-acid-research.html

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2018.00158/full

https://www.jasco-global.com/solutions/monitoring-of-protein-behavior-by-using-fret/

Join us for an exciting conversation with Sandy Rathod, PhD, CEO of NeuroReality! In this episode, we explore the exciting world of neurotechnology with a focus on virtual reality as a cognitive rehabilitation approach. We discuss the potential of VR for cognitive enhancement and educational purposes and gain valuable perspectives on building successful collaborations with clinicians and the strategies behind developing such a product. Sandy shares her valuable experience in academia and the business world, as well as her advice to young researchers. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about the future, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Our channel is supported by International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Neurosciences, the European Neuroscience Institute, as well as Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) in Göttingen, Germany. The views presented on this channel are not representative of IMPRS or MBExC.

Learn more on NeuroReality: https://neuro-reality.com/ Video inset from Koji's Quest provided by Dr. Sandy Rathod.


#neurotechnology #virtualreality #podcast #science #technology #healthcare #mentalhealth #innovation #entrepreneurship #phd #ceo #neuroreality #kojisquest

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Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Beatriz Apgaua
Mels Akhmetali