CBST is developing biophotonic tools to study traumatic brain injury. These tools include microendoscopes to study cerebrovascular changes in awake and freely-moving animal injury models. Other efforts include Raman spectroscopy to identify optical markers of disease in neurons and astrocytes; 3D video confocal microscopy for dynamic-, and OMX for structural-changes in injured cells. CBST is also collaborating with neuroscientists at UC Davis and technologists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to develop new neuro-protective strategies for our soldiers in Iraq.

Schematic of portable one-photon microendoscope for high-resolution, in vivo imaging of the brain. (Mark Schnitzer, Stanford University)

High-resolution image of the cerebral vasculature of an awake rat, made with a multiphoton microendoscope.