More than 80 top national and international scientists converged on the Kolling Institute for the 4th Optogenetics Australia meeting, featuring the very latest light technologies driving research.
The event attracted dynamic keynote speakers from the USA, Europe and China, and leading research institutions across Australia.
Chair of Optogenetics Australia and senior Kolling Institute pain medicine researcher, Associate Professor Karin Aubrey said optogenetics is a range of technologies that allow researchers to use light to control biological processors.
“New technologies often determine what is possible at the cutting edge of science, accelerating our understanding of what causes disease and how we diagnose, prevent and treat it,” she said.
“The first human application of optogenetics, published in 2021, partially restored vision in a blind patient.
“The technology is also being used to develop less invasive methods for sleep apnoea treatment, to reduce stroke effects and even to modify plants so that they can thrive in space.”
Associate Professor Aubrey said optogenetics is a powerful tool in neuroscience, as it allows researchers to study individual components of brain circuits that cause neurological disease.
“Australian researchers are using light-sensitive tools and other innovative techniques to study the brain’s stress, addiction, pain, memory and depression circuits.
“Encouragingly, we have a depth of experience in optogenetics at the Kolling within the Pain Management Research Labs, and the event provided a great opportunity for collaboration and networking.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in making the event a success, including leading international developers Professor Michael Bruchas from University of Washington, Professor Yulong Li from Beijing University, Deniz Dalkara from the Institute de la Vision in France and Assistant Professor Guosong Hong from Stanford University.
“These researchers are producing some of the best new tools in the field and it was valuable to hear the latest progress.”
The next Optogenetics Australia meeting will be staged in 2027.