The understanding of brain function is one of the most exciting and difficult scientific challenges. All system neuroscience research suggests that decoding the brain black box will rely on a more precise description of brain tissue at a single-cell level (neuron, microglia, astrocytes, perycites…) or even at a subcellular level or beyond (membrane dynamics, nucleus, mitochondria, DNA, RNA…) but also of visualization of brain circuits at large scale.

To achieve this goal, we need to develop new technologies to probe brain activity at high spatiotemporal resolution, with a large field of view and in depth. The recent use of 2 photon imaging (2Pi) associated with genetically encoded voltage/calcium indicators (GEVI/GECI) has been key for analyzing specific basic brain circuits. Nevertheless, those strategies are limited to preclinical models (mostly rodents) and are hampered by the low penetration of photons due to tissue scattering. Moreover, most 2Pi studies are performed in head restrained conditions that limit the behavior repertoire and thus also limiting our understanding of brain circuits.

fUS allows imaging of brain activity based on the small blood flow changes that occur when neurons are active. It is designed for large-scale imaging, and it combines many advantages, including compatibility with awake and freely moving animals, a high spatial resolution (up to 100x100x100 um), a large field of view (up to 3x5 cm), deep imaging (up to 5 cm), a high temporal resolution (up to 100 ms) and a high sensitivity.

The fUSi technology hold great potential. But like for any innovative modality, fUSi hardware/software development and new data analysis must be accompanied by specialists in the field. Moreover, we believe that it is impossible to develop appropriate brain imaging technologies without being a pioneer in neuroscience research because to understand the brain we need more than physics. Therefore, our team unifies multidisciplinary engineers, neuroscientists, and medical doctors to solve technical challenges for improving fUSi in a relevant way for the neuroscience community.

We aim to expand fUSI technology by tailoring it to the needs of the scientific community across several fields, research topics, and models. For this purpose, we actively collaborate with a growing network of scientists and key opinion leaders in academics, clinics, and industries across Belgium and abroad (EU, UK, USA, Asia, and South America).

The NERF fUSI community currently consists of over 25 principal investigators and their teams. We also establish direct relationships with stakeholders, including patient associations, research institutes, hospitals, the medical industry, and regulatory authorities in different countries, to better understand market needs.