Visualizing Molecular Events in the Brain with Hemogenetic MRI

The brain’s extensive vascular network enables hemodynamic imaging to serve not only as a readout of general brain activity (conventional BOLD fMRI), but also — when combined with synthetic biology — as a potent reporter for molecular signaling. We developed hemogenetic MRI, a novel approach that enables the translation of molecular signaling events in the brain into spatially localized, hemodynamic MRI signals through the use of genetically encoded reporters.

In this talk, Dr. Nan Li introduces hemogenetic MRI tools designed to probe brain function at cell-type and subcellular resolution: (1) calcium-sensitive reporters based on engineered nitric oxide synthases for activity-dependent hemodynamic imaging; (2) luminescence-driven hemogenetic reporters that use photosensitization of cerebral vasculature to visualize gene expression; and (3) axon-terminal-targeted reporters that enable functional imaging of projection-specific neurotransmission. Together, these tools establish a new framework for noninvasive, whole-brain imaging of molecular events, bridging the gap between cellular signaling and systems-level brain function. Register for Virtual Register for virtual to receive updates and online access to our full virtual season.