Principle Investigator: René Werkmeister
Co-investigators: Alina Messner, Valentin Aranha dos Santos
Core-Team Member: Gerhard Garhöfer
funded by: WWTF Life Sciences LS14-067
Optophysiology summarizes tools and methods for investigating the neuronal activity of cells and measuring their structural changes. For the retina, in particular, this means the detection of scattering changes or changes in the position of specific layers, also referred to as intrinsic optical signals, in response to an optical stimulus. These signals could potentially be linked to spatially resolved retinal function and help to gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of retinal diseases.
In the current project founded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund, we investigate intrinsic optical signals induced by light stimulation by means of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography. Due to its high resolution and spatial selectivity, the method has the potential to contribute to functional diagnostic of retinal diseases.