51cg

Publications

, Verdier Antonin, , , Callas Ella, , Aniorte Alicia, Mabrouk Kakaouia Eya, Pereyra Magdalena, , Bathellier Brice,

Nature Communications Vol 17 (2026)

Byron Nicole, , Pisano Filippo, Pisanello Marco, Ferreira Jacques, Montinaro Cinzia, , De Vittorio Massimo, Pisanello Ferruccio,

Neurophotonics Vol 12 (2025)

, Reiche Christopher F, Clark Andrew M, Scharf Robert, , Sharma Rohit, Rieth Loren, , Angelucci Alessandra, , Blair Steve

Journal of Neural Engineering Vol 21 (2024)

Clark Andrew M, Ingold Alexander, Reiche Christopher F, Cundy III Donald, Balsor Justin L, Federer Frederick, , , Rolston John D, Rieth Loren, , , Blair Steve, Angelucci Alessandra

Communications Biology Vol 7 (2024)

Clark Andrew M, Ingold Alexander, Reiche Christopher F, Cundy III Donald, Balsor Justin L, Federer Frederick, , , Rolston John D, Rieth Loren, , , Blair Steve, Angelucci Alessandra

(2023)

, , , Verdier Antonin, Bathellier Brice,

EMBC 2022 (2022)

Research Interests

• Photonics
• Developing new imaging techniques for Neuroscience
• Developing new photonic devices for Optogenetics

Professional Activities

Participant

9/9/2025

Participant

20/2/2025

Speaker

11/7/2020

Speaker

6/3/2020

Speaker

1/2/2020

Participant

3/12/2018

Projects

McAlinden, Niall (Principal Investigator)

Licence Agreement between University of 51cg and OptogeniX

08-Jan-2026

McAlinden, Niall (Principal Investigator) Mathieson, Keith (Academic) Stoyanov, Svetoslav (Researcher)

There is a growing demand for wireless, site-specific optogenetic devices that enable precise neural modulation without constraining naturalistic animal behaviour. Tapered optical fibres are commonly used in optogenetics because they enable multisite and large-volume illumination within a minimally invasive probe, while also serving as both excitation and collection elements for fibre photometry. Their tapered geometry acts as a mode demultiplexer: higher-order modes emit near the base of the taper, whereas lower-order modes emit closer to the tip. However, achieving controlled mode-selective coupling into multimode fibres typically requires bulky optical hardware, meaning that in vivo experiments rely on tethered fibre-optic connections. These tethers restrict natural movement and limit the range of behavioural paradigms that can be explored.

To overcome these constraints, we have developed a lightweight (<3 g, including battery) wireless headstage capable of driving tapered鈥慺ibre optogenetics. The system integrates a wireless communication module with a multi鈥憇ite light鈥慸elivery module. The communication module consists of an STM microcontroller with integrated Bluetooth and an Intan digital electrophysiology stimulator/amplifier microchip which in this device supports electrical recording from four channels at up to 20 kHz sampling rate and provides sufficient current to drive four light sources. The light delivery module includes 4 edge-emitting semiconductor lasers which are mounted so that they couple into a fibre optic at different angles. This configuration enables independent illumination of four distinct sites along the tapered fibre.

01-Jan-2024

Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) McAlinden, Niall (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2025

Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator) Wozny, Christian (Co-investigator) McAlinden, Niall (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2021 - 30-Jan-2025

Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) McAlinden, Niall (Co-investigator) McGleish, Olivia Mae (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2018 - 26-Jan-2026

Mathieson, Keith (Principal Investigator) McAlinden, Niall (Researcher) Gunning, Deborah (Fellow) Sakata, Shuzo (Principal Investigator)

Development of novel light sources for optogenetic control of neural circuits.

01-Jan-2011