# A multiphoton system that allows simultaneous multiphoton imaging and 3D optical stimulation

> **NIH NIH S10** · RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2021 · $600,000

## Abstract

Abstract/Project Summary
In this project, we request funds to acquire an upright Bruker NeuraLight 3D spatial laser modulator (SLM) Ultima
multiphoton microscope to enable simultaneous multiphoton imaging and 3D holographic optical stimulation.
The instrument will allow simultaneous deep brain, decoupled, two-photon functional imaging of neuronal activity
and SLM holographic optogenetic stimulations to study and understand neural connectivity and how neural
networks control behavior. The instrument will be housed at the Child Health Institute of New Jersey (CHINJ) at
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) to support research in unraveling the molecular,
synaptic, and cellular mechanisms underlying mental disorders in a cell type- and circuity-specific manner. This
instrument will be the first of its kind on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) and Rutgers New
Brunswick/Piscataway campuses and will fill a critical void in available technologies to multiple investigators
funded by NIMH at Rutgers. The core users of the system will be prioritized to NIMH-funded research laboratories
with expertise in developing novel optical sensors, and studying fear, depression, and autism and Tourette
syndromes, but will also be available for use by other NIH-funded researchers. This cutting-edge instrumentation
will meet a critical need in the dramatically increased demand for deep tissue imaging with cell type and circuitry-
specific optogenetic manipulations, essential for understanding complex brain disorders and behaviors, which
cannot be met by any other systems currently available on campus. Recent developments in optics technologies,
specific opsins and genetically encoded neuronal activity reporters including GCaMPs (calcium), Voltron & ASAP
(voltage), dLight or GRAB-DA (dopamine), as well as Reporters for Transmission mediated by GPCRs (RTGRs)
which we are currently developing, have made these research paradigms possible. Importantly, we have
obtained strong commitments from the CHINJ, Rutgers-RWJMS, and Rutgers-School of Arts and Sciences for
this application to acquire this state-of-the-art upright multiphoton microscopy system, including designated
space, funding for additional instrumentation costs, and long-term support for an extended service contract and
maintenance for the system. The principal investigator and a senior lab research associate, along with local
technical experts, will be responsible for all user training and routine daily maintenance, as well as providing user
assistance, consultation on experimental design and advice on system configuration and optimal system use.
An advisory committee composed of members with strong expertise in biophotonics has been formed to ensure
proper and efficient use of the facility. We anticipate that the addition of this system will not only greatly
strengthen current NIMH-funded projects but will also allow users to explore new questions previously not
addressable due to the ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10282627
- **Project number:** 1S10MH124725-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** ZHIPING P. PANG
- **Activity code:** S10 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $600,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-11 → 2022-08-10

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10282627

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10282627, A multiphoton system that allows simultaneous multiphoton imaging and 3D optical stimulation (1S10MH124725-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10282627. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*
