2021/03/22 台大電機系 劉浩澧教授 演講

Summer Internship and Neuroscience Training Opportunities

Overview of Summer Internship Program

• The Summer Internship program will be announced soon, with participation from various teachers. Last year, there were 19 labs available for students to choose from.

• An information session is scheduled for May 23rd to discuss the participating labs and help students select based on their interests.

Internship Structure and Goals

• Students can negotiate with professors about spending a month during summer (July or August) working in their chosen lab, providing practical experience in research.

• The aim is to give students hands-on opportunities that may not be available in classroom settings, enhancing their understanding of experimental concepts.

Additional Training Opportunities

• A separate Neuroscience Summer Training Camp will also be offered, focusing on developing specific skills over a month-long course with limited spots available. This camp differs from the internship as it emphasizes training rather than direct lab work.

• Students are encouraged to apply for both the internship and training camp; however, selection is competitive as professors will also evaluate applicants. Experience gained this year can aid future applications even if not selected this time around.

Promotional Activities and Engagement

Center's Promotional Initiatives

• The center has received encouragement for its courses from the school and plans to engage students through social media interactions by offering rewards for likes and shares on their posts. Each interaction can earn students special items like customized folders or themed gifts related to neuroscience.

• Students are encouraged to participate actively in promoting the center’s activities online as part of an engagement strategy aimed at increasing visibility and involvement within the community.

Upcoming Events: Celebration and Networking

May 23rd Event Details

• During the upcoming event on May 23rd, there will be food provided along with presentations from faculty about interesting projects in their labs related to the Summer Internship program, creating a celebratory atmosphere for networking among students and faculty members alike.

Introduction of Guest Speaker: Professor Liu

Background Information

• Professor Liu Hao-liu from Electrical Engineering at National Taiwan University will present today; he has extensive experience including postdoctoral work abroad before returning to Taiwan where he has held various academic positions over 17 years at Chang Gung University. His expertise lies in applying ultrasound technology within neuroscience research contexts.

Ultrasound Technology in Neuroscience

Introduction to Ultrasound Applications

• Professor Liu introduces ultrasound technology which has been traditionally used in medical diagnostics but is now being explored for brain stimulation treatments—a relatively new application that opens up innovative possibilities within neuroscience research fields.

Characteristics of Ultrasound Technology

• Ultrasound operates beyond human hearing frequencies (above 20 kHz), making it suitable for various applications including spatial exploration by animals like bats using echolocation techniques—highlighting its potential utility across different domains such as medicine and biology.

Historical Context

• The use of ultrasound dates back over a century when it was first patented for sonar applications following maritime disasters like Titanic; its military uses during World War II accelerated technological advancements leading into medical fields where it became essential for non-invasive diagnostic imaging techniques.

Medical Applications of Ultrasound

Diagnostic Uses

• Ultrasound technology allows safe imaging without radiation exposure, widely utilized across hospitals globally due to its effectiveness in examining soft tissues—particularly useful in obstetrics/gynecology practices.

Evolution Over Time

• By the late 1980's ultrasound technology matured significantly leading towards commercialization while maintaining high safety standards compared against traditional radiological methods—further expanding its clinical relevance across multiple specialties.

Therapeutic Potential

• Recent studies have begun exploring therapeutic uses alongside diagnostic capabilities; researchers are investigating how focused ultrasound could stimulate or treat tissue effectively without invasive procedures—a promising frontier still under development.

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Understanding the Challenges of Drug Delivery to the Brain

The Blood-Brain Barrier and Its Implications

• Approximately 98% of drugs cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, limiting treatment options for brain diseases.

• Only a few existing drugs are capable of penetrating this barrier effectively.

Current Solutions and Limitations

• Traditional methods often involve invasive neurosurgical procedures to deliver drugs directly into the brain.

• New technologies have emerged, but many still face significant challenges in drug design and delivery.

Innovative Approaches: Ultrasound Technology

• In 2003, researchers discovered that ultrasound could temporarily open the blood-brain barrier using microbubbles as contrast agents.

• This method is likened to opening champagne; when bubbles expand under ultrasound, they can momentarily disrupt the barrier.

Mechanism of Action

• The expansion of these microbubbles can stretch blood vessels, allowing for temporary permeability without permanent damage.

• The effect lasts only a short time, after which the blood-brain barrier re-establishes itself.

Focused Delivery Capabilities

• Ultrasound technology allows for targeted delivery to specific areas in the brain rather than affecting broader regions.

• This precision makes it a promising method for drug delivery compared to traditional techniques.

Research Developments in Drug Delivery Techniques

Experimental Findings

• Initial studies confirmed that ultrasound could effectively open the blood-brain barrier within minutes during treatment sessions.

• The closure of this barrier typically occurs within hours post-treatment, influenced by energy levels used during ultrasound application.

Exploring Various Imaging Techniques

• Researchers are experimenting with different imaging modalities combined with ultrasound to enhance drug delivery effectiveness.

Collaboration with Medical Institutions

• Early collaborations with hospitals aimed at developing effective platforms for delivering treatments across various conditions.

Enhancing Existing Drugs Through Ultrasound

Potential Benefits of Enhanced Drug Delivery

• Investigating whether existing drugs can be delivered more efficiently through this new technique offers significant therapeutic potential.

Case Studies on Specific Drugs

• Studies show that certain established cancer medications may achieve increased permeability rates when combined with ultrasound techniques.

Broader Applications Beyond Cancer Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease Research Insights

• Other labs are exploring how similar techniques might benefit Alzheimer’s patients by activating glial cells in response to ultrasonic stimulation.

Glial Cell Activation Mechanism

• Activated glial cells can help clear amyloid-beta plaques from the brain, potentially improving cognitive function over time.

Clinical Trials and Future Directions

• Ongoing clinical trials aim to assess safety and efficacy while exploring commercial viability due to high demand in treating neurological disorders.

Exploring Neural Modulation through Ultrasound

Introduction to Research Approaches

• Many scholars approach the study of neural modulation from different angles, including cellular levels and animal models.

• The goal across various research is to explore whether ultrasound can effectively modulate neural activity and its potential implications.

Conceptualizing Control with Ultrasound

• Researchers envision using ultrasound as a tool to control animal behavior, such as directing mice to turn left or right.

• This idea builds on previous attempts to control simpler organisms like cockroaches, now advancing to more complex subjects like mice.

Advancements in Methodology

• Biologists are improving methods for confirming mechanisms behind ultrasound's effects, particularly in studies involving nematodes.

• By genetically modifying nematodes to express calcium ion channels, researchers enable them to respond to ultrasound stimuli.

Genetic Engineering Insights

• The concept of introducing light-sensitive genes into neurons has parallels with inserting sound-responsive genes into organisms.

• Sound-responsive genes could potentially reach deeper areas of the human brain compared to light-sensitive ones that require invasive procedures.

Clinical Implications and Future Directions

• Successful implementation of sound-responsive genes could have significant clinical value, especially if they can be applied in humans.

• There is a strong interest in transitioning from laboratory research on animals to clinical applications for human health benefits.

Current Challenges in Gene Application

• Few researchers are exploring suitable genes for this purpose; challenges remain due to differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.

• A lack of effective proteins similar to light-sensitive proteins hinders progress; discovering such proteins could lead to groundbreaking advancements.

Human Applications and Ongoing Studies

• As research progresses with animals, parallel studies are being conducted on humans using non-invasive ultrasound techniques.

• Initial findings show that stimulating sensory areas of the brain can elicit physical sensations like tingling or itching in patients.

Observations from Sensory Stimulation Experiments

• Specific stimulation of brain regions correlates with sensations experienced by participants (e.g., tingling when stimulating hand areas).

Visual Cortex Stimulation Findings

• Further experiments involve stimulating visual cortex areas, resulting in reported flashes of light by participants, indicating successful neural engagement.

Mechanisms Behind Neural Responses

• While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, changes observed at the cellular level suggest a link between calcium channel activation and sensory responses.

Investigating Ultrasound's Impact on Neurons

• Neuroscientists aim to understand how ultrasound influences neuronal activity and what pathways are involved in this modulation process.

Innovations from Leading Labs

• Some labs have developed carriers that enhance gene expression related to sound responsiveness through innovative methodologies.

Potential Therapeutic Applications

Addressing Neurological Disorders

• One major focus is utilizing these techniques for treating epilepsy by altering abnormal neuronal firing patterns.

• Recent studies indicate promising results where ultrasonic modulation significantly reduces seizure frequency in rodent models.

Cognitive Changes Through Functional Imaging

• Researchers also investigate cognitive changes associated with neural modulation using functional MRI technology.

• Preliminary results show enhanced connectivity among multiple brain regions following ultrasonic stimulation sessions.

Variability in Response Duration

• Different parameters used during stimulation can either activate or inhibit neuronal responses; understanding these effects is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Transitioning Technology into Clinical Settings

Development of Medical Devices

• Efforts are underway at medical centers aiming to adapt ultrasonic technologies for clinical use beyond animal testing.

• Trials conducted on patients with brain tumors demonstrate potential benefits from targeted ultrasonic treatments near tumor sites.

Patient Experiences During Trials

• Anecdotal evidence suggests significant improvements in patient quality of life post-treatment; some report unprecedented relief after years of suffering from conditions like epilepsy.

Conclusion: Future Prospects

Importance of Focused Ultrasound Technology

• Focused ultrasound represents a transformative technology within neuroscience that holds promise for both basic research and clinical applications moving forward.

• Continued collaboration between academic institutions and medical facilities will be essential for advancing this field toward practical solutions for neurological disorders.