X-ray Nanoscale Neuroimaging

We are developing X-ray microscopy for life sciences, with a particular focus on neurosciences. Our group is interdisciplinary, bringing together people with expertise in physics, computer science and neurobiology. 
We are pursuing integrative research, combining developments in instrumentation, sample preparation, data acquisition, image reconstruction and data analysis. We strive to overcome limits in spatial resolution, contrast and scalability in X-ray nanotomography. We generate complex multi-terabyte 3D images that require automated and reliable data analysis tools. For this, we develop machine learning based computer vision methods, tailored for large-scale X-ray nanotomography. 

We have a special interest in connectomics - the reconstruction and study of neural circuits at single cell level. We are collaborating with neuroscientists across the world to generate wiring diagrams of whole brains and whole organisms in small animal models, and of meaningful brain regions in mammalian brains. This research work serves to understand how the brain processes information and to discover solutions for preventing and treating neurological disorders. 

The group was founded thanks to an ERC grant (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/852455) and our work continued to be supported by NIH (https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10376584), UKRI Physics of Life (https://www.discover.ukri.org/unlocking-the-physics-of-life/index.html) and the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung.