Imaging mitochondrial metabolism in the retina by near-infrared spectroscopy – a window to understanding neurological disease

Kenneth Smith (primary)
Institute of Neurology
University College London
Ilias Tachtsidis (secondary)
Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering
University College London

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction and tissue hypoxia are major contributors to neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease, but research into novel therapies is hampered because these pathologies are largely invisible to most imaging techniques.  This limitation can be overcome by advances in near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) which allow mitochondrial function, blood haemodynamics and oxygenation to be assessed in vivo, thereby illuminating (literally!) how energy dysfunction contributes to neurological damage.  Our goal is to create novel protocols for multispectral imaging, and then to apply them to animal models of ageing and neuroinflammatory disease to explore the efficacy of new neuroprotective strategies.


References

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BBSRC Area
Animal disease, health and welfare
Area of Biology
NeurobiologyPhysiology
Techniques & Approaches
EngineeringMathematics / StatisticsMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologySimulation / Modelling