Prof. Dr. Volker Busskamp from the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn will talk about “Driving human stem-cell derived neuronal circuits by optogenetics”

Abstract

The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) now facilitates bottom-up approaches in neuroscience. There exist many efficient protocols to trigger neurogenesis in hiPSCs. We are using known and newly-screened transcription factors to forward program hiPSCs into neurons. We study their functional maturation over time using standard and CMOS-micro-electrode array (MEA) recordings, enabling continuous assessment of neuronal function over three months. We show that individual neurons, expressing optogenes, are efficiently stimulated using holographic stimulation. This technique also facilitates to study individual neuronal circuits in random networks in 2D. Optogenetics is beneficial to induce robust neuronal activity at earlier developmental time points. Next to random networks, we also developed a “cell-jet” printer to generate precise and reproducible neuronal circuits in microchannels placed on MEAs. Thereby, we study circuit development and functional features of individual neurons.

Chairs: Tobias Moser and Thomas Mager

Poster of the talk: