Systems neuroscience research
Systems neuroscience research
We study how different neural circuits analyze sensory information, form perceptions of the external world, make decisions, and execute movements. We try to bridge molecular and cellular approaches to understanding brain structure and function and typically combine various techniques for understanding networks of neurons, including electrophysiology and imaging technologies.
Circuit dysfunction in amblyopia
ERA-NET NEURON
The project Understanding brain circuit dysfunction in amblyopia using large-scale multimodal recordings in a new visuomotor task applied to animal models and patients (UnscrAMBLY) is led by Dr. Daniel Hillier (TTK, Hungary). We aim to provide a network view of the neuronal origins of amblyopia by leveraging the discriminative power of a visuomotor prediction test in a joint clinical and basic science proof-of-concept study covering mice, cats, and humans.
Innate defensive behavior circuits
FWO
Rapidly approaching objects, known as visual looming, is an intrinsic and unconditional warning cue to elicit an automatic defensive response in dealing with emergencies. It can be observed in virtually all animal species, including humans.
In this collaborative project with Dr. Karl Farrow (NERF, Belgium), we combine behavioral recordings in a virtual reality environment with volumetric (4D) fUSI to study brain-wide activity in response to looming stimulations that mimic an approaching aerial predator to initiate a rapid escape response. The objective is to understand the role of the superior colliculus (SC)-lateral posterior nucleus (LP)-basolateral amygdala (BLA) pathway for detecting visual threats in mice and look for the contribution of other circuits.
Relieve pain directly in the brain
FWO
Pain is an essential feature of our bodies that alerts us to danger or injury. Several therapies exist, but no universal pain reliever has been identified. In collaboration with Dr. Thomas Voets (CBD-VIB, Belgium) Our goal is to modulate precise brain circuits to relieve pain instantaneously without the need for drugs. We study pain in head-fixed mice and simultaneously record brain-wide activity using volumetric functional ultrasound imaging (vfUSI) and animal behavior using fast video cameras. The facial expression of pain will also be decoded using artificial intelligence.
fUS imaging for patient care
The Urban lab is involved in proof of concept clinical trials in collaboration with several teams at UZ Leuven. The objective is to bring the transforming fUSI technology to patients. Such a goal implies i) identification of the medical need and opportunities, ii) creating the necessary links with the clinical teams to build the research project, iii) developing the fUSI hardware, software, and protocols dedicated to the clinics, and, finally, iv) validating the technology in patients and specific diseases/conditions.
The current research is focused on neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), young adults, and adults (Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Brain tumor, Traumatic Brain Injury).
