# Interrogating Neuronal Membrane Potential Dynamics with Optical Voltage Sensors

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2020 · $324,707

## Abstract

07 Project Summary/Abstract
The long-term goal of this project is to interrogate the dynamics of membrane voltage in the context of intact
brains with high spatiotemporal resolution. Optical methods to dissect neuronal activity promise to revolutionize
our understanding of the brain at the cellular and circuit level; however, our understanding remains incomplete
due, in part, to a lack of tools that can report directly on neuronal activity with sufficient speed and sensitivity.
We propose to use the power of molecular design and organic chemistry to develop and apply new optical tools
for monitoring membrane potential with unprecedented speed and sensitivity in intact brains and without
disruptive capacitive load associated with other classes of voltage indicators. We plan to exploit photoinduced
electron transfer (PeT) through molecular wires as a versatile platform for optical voltage sensing. We will build
a palette of colors for optical voltage sensing that extends into the near infrared regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum; we will create new voltage sensors with exceptionally high two-photon absorption cross sections for
use in thick tissue and intact brains; and we will explore methods for genetically targeting and localizing ultra-
sensitive fluorescent voltage sensors to neurons of interest. Throughout, development of molecular tools will be
closely wed to applications in neurons and tissues, and we will apply these tools to understand how membrane
potential dynamics change in both healthy and neurological disease states.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9851951
- **Project number:** 5R01NS098088-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Evan Walker Miller
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $324,707
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9851951

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9851951, Interrogating Neuronal Membrane Potential Dynamics with Optical Voltage Sensors (5R01NS098088-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9851951. Licensed CC0.

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