[1066] Integrative Imaging and Translational Neurotechnologies

The Zerbi Lab for Translational Neurotechnologies develops and applies cutting-edge tools in neuroscience to better understand and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. We aim to bridge the gap between preclinical research and clinical translation through the integration of systems neuroscience, functional neuroimaging, and neuromodulation-based therapeutic strategies. Our approach is highly interdisciplinary, combining experimental neurobiology, advanced imaging, and neuroengineering to investigate brain circuit dysfunction and its modulation. Key focus areas include brain connectivity in disease, neuromodulatory dynamics, neurostimulation technologies, and cell replacement therapy for neurodegeneration. Our lab maintains active collaborations with Swiss and international academic institutions and industrial partners working on neuromodulation and regenerative medicine.

Our research is structured around three main axes that aim to unravel brain circuit dysfunction and develop targeted therapeutic strategies.

1. Circuit Neuroscience and Brain Connectivity
We study how large-scale brain networks are organized and disrupted in neuropsychiatric diseases, using fMRI and functional ultrasound in awake rodents. A key focus is on understanding how neuromodulators like noradrenaline influence brain-wide dynamics and behavior.

2. Neuromodulation and Brain Stimulation
We develop and test invasive (optogenetics, chemogenetics) and non-invasive (e.g., temporal interference) neurostimulation techniques to modulate brain circuits in a precise, cell-type-specific manner. Functional imaging is used to assess their global impact and therapeutic potential.

3. Cell Therapy and Neuronal Transplantation
We pioneer integrated strategies for cell therapy in Parkinson’s disease, combining in vivo imaging of transplanted dopaminergic neurons with in vitro platforms using human-derived cultures and brain stimulation. These approaches help link cellular function to circuit repair and behavioral recovery.