Neuroimaging techniques
The neuroimaging platform offers services in designing neuroimaging studies, setting up experimental protocols, and advising in the preprocessing and analysis of data acquired from several neuroimaging modalities.
Areas of expertise include functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), structural MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging (a.k.a. DTI), quantitative MRI, blood-perfusion imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For task-based functional MRI studies we have equipment for automated presentation of visual, auditory, tactile, and olfactory stimuli.
We also have capabilities for conducting simultaneous functional MRI and electroencephalography. We are now developing and testing electromyographic methods for measuring facial-emotion response during functional MRI scans.
Contact person:
Paul Hamilton
E-mail: paul.hamilton@liu.se
Drug discovery platform
The drug discovery platform offer facilities in synthesis of small molecule compounds for target identification, lead identification and lead optimization.
Our skills include multiple-step synthesis, synthesis for SAR investigation, up scaling from mg to g, synthetic route optimization, and structural elucidation of metabolite. We have a lot of experience in the synthesis of natural product and its derivatives, carbohydrate, stilbene, heterocyclic compounds, i.e. oligothiophene, resveratrol, terpene and its derivatives.
Contact person:
Xiongyu Wu, IFM, 3B:590
E-mail: xiowu@ifm.liu.se
Tel: 013-28 46 66
Electrophysiology platform
Within the electrophysiology platform, the patch clamp technique is used to record electrical activity in slices of brain and spinal cord, as well as in primary cultures and cell lines.
There is also the possibility to do simultaneous calcium imaging studies and to identify neuronal populations expressing fluorescent proteins.
Examples are studies of neuronal excitability, inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission and drug effects on ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels.
Contact person:
Urban Karlsson, Cell Biology floor 11
E-mail: urban.karlsson@liu.se
Tel: 010-103 07 51
In vivo optogenetics & optical imaging
At the optogenetics & optical imaging platform we can help with experimental design, data analysis and teaching for experiments involving in vivo application of optogenetics and/or fluorescent imaging techniques in rodents. We can also perform limited amounts of hands-on experiments.
Our expertise includes using optogenetic techniques to drive activation or inhibition of genetically- and/or anatomically defined neuronal populations in behaving rodents. In addition, we have experience with optical techniques for investigating neuronal activity in vivo. In particular, we have been using fiber photometry to measure bulk changes in intracellular calcium as a proxy for neural activity. The commercially available list of fluorescent sensors that can be used for optical imaging is rapidly expanding, making it possible to now also measure e.g. release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Both optogenetics and fiber photometry are often combined with behavioral analysis.
Equipment that the platform currently has available includes a set up for stereotaxic surgery, a portable rig for fiber photometry and multiple LED units for optogenetics. These techniques can be combined with tracking software (Ethovision XT) or operant test chambers (Med Associates) that are present in our facilities.
Contact person:
Joost Wiskerke, Entrance 64, Cell Biology, floor 12
E-mail: joost.wiskerke@liu.se
