Course overview

Understanding how neural circuit activity translates into behavior is a fundamental challenge in neuroscience. Tackling this issue requires detailed knowledge of neural circuit architecture, including cell types, connectivity, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of activity in the intact brain during behavior. Additionally, establishing causal relationships between cellular and circuit-level processes and behavioral outputs requires precise perturbation of specific circuit elements with both temporal and spatial precision.

This course will introduce cutting-edge anatomical, genetic, optical, electrophysiological, optogenetic, and pharmacogenetic approaches available for addressing these challenges. Faculty members will cover tool development and their applications across diverse model systems, including flies, mice and zebrafish. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and limitations of these techniques, equipping them to design and interpret experiments effectively.

Course Directors

Venue Management

Keynote Speakers

Instructors

Ben Judkewitz, Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Charité, Germany
Carolina Rezaval, University of Birmingham, UK
Carsen Stringer, HHMI Janelia, USA
Darcy Peterka, Columbia University, USA
Eugenia Chiappe, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Francois St Pierre, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Greg Jefferis, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK
Gonzalo de Polavieja, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Karel Svoboda, Allen Institute, USA
Lisa Fenk, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Germany
Michael Orger, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Marta Moita, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Na Ji, University of California, USA
Nathalie Rochefort, University of Edinburgh, UK
Srinivas Turaga, HHMI Janelia, USA
Stan Heinze, Lund University, Sweden
Talmo Pereira, Salk Institute, USA
Thomas Akam, University of Oxford, UK
Tobias Rose, University of Bonn Medical Center, Germany
Troy Margrie, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, UK
Valentina Emiliani, Vision Institute, France
Vanessa Ruta, Rockefeller University, USA

Alexandre Leitão, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Bruno Cruz, Allen Institute, USA
Cecilia Herbert, Open Ephys, Portugal
Charlie Dowell, Rockefeller University, USA
Corinna Gebehart, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Dario Campagner, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, UK
Joao Marques, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Jonathan Cook, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Laura Silva, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Mathias Loidolt, University College of London, UK
Rute Marques, Champalimaud Foundation, Portugal
Yaara Lefler, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, UK

Course content

This course combines a lecture series led by top researchers from around the world with a practical “hands-on” introduction to the latest methods for probing neural circuits using fruit flies, zebrafish, and transgenic mice. The course will focus on circuit anatomy and connectivity, activity recording and manipulation, and the relationship between neural circuits and behavior.

As part of the course, each student will conduct a mini-project, working under the guidance and supervision of experienced researchers and teaching assistants. This approach ensures participants develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in modern neuroscience methodologies.

Techniques

Techniques used during the course include:

Fruit flies and Zebrafish

– Optogenetic manipulation with and without digital holography

– Behavior & population calcium imaging using 2-photon microscopy

Mice

– In vivo 2-photon and 3-photon imaging

– All-optical experiments (simultaneous 2-photon optogenetics and 2-photon imaging)

– 1-photon and 2-photon miniscope imaging

– Extracellular recordings of neural population activity using Neuropixels probes in head-fixed and freely behaving animals

– Closed-loop behavioural experiments

Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Portugal

The Champalimaud Foundation is a private, non-profit organization, established in 2005 and dedicated to research excellence in biomedical science. Completed in 2010, the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown is a state-of-the-art centre that houses the Champalimaud Clinical Centre and the Champalimaud Research, with its three parallel programs – the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, the Physiology and Cancer Programme, and the Experimental Clinical Research Programme.
Initially focused on a system and circuit approach to brain function and behavior, the Centre expanded to incorporate molecular and cell biological expertise. The Centre comprises 26 research groups (circa 400 researchers) leading independent curiosity-based research.

Facilities
The Centre provides Facilities dedicated for Training, some in their entirety, for use by the CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme. These include the Teaching Laboratory, a fully equipped open lab space for 20-30 students that can be dynamically reconfigured to support a full range of neuroscience courses. It also overlooks, via floor to ceiling windows, a tropical garden and the river. The experimental spaces include: Imaging Lab: A dark-room containing a full size optical table is used for advanced imaging setups (two-photon microscopy, SPIM, etc.) and custom (course-designed) optical systems.

Registration

Fee : 4 500 € (includes tuition fee, accommodation and meals)

Deadline Extended: Apply by March 19th

The CAJAL programme offers 4 stipends per course (waived registration fee, not including travel expenses). Please apply through the course online application form. In order to identify candidates in real need of a stipend, any grant applicant is encouraged to first request funds from their lab, institution or government.

Kindly note that if you benefited from a Cajal stipend in the past, you are no longer eligible to receive this kind of funding. However other types of funding (such as partial travel grants from sponsors) might be made available after the participants selection pro- cess, depending on the course.