Engineered AAV capsids with enhanced targeting of the nervous system after intravenous administration
Posted on July 7th, 2025
A toolkit of engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids developed in the Gradinaru lab at Caltech with enhanced potency for the central or peripheral nervous system after intravenous administration. These capsids enable efficient and non-invasive gene delivery across a wide variety of model organisms from mouse to macaque. Systemic AAVs may be chosen for broad cell type targeting or restricted infection to a single cell class, e.g. neurons or vasculature, and readily combine with cell-type specific enhancer or miRNA target site gene regulatory elements.
Stanford Program for Integrated Neuroscience Technologies
Posted on July 17th, 2023
The Stanford Program for Integrated Neuroscience Technologies (SPrINT) aims to establish a platform for the centralization and dissemination of innovative neuroscience technologies, models, reagents, and training in order to advance neuroscience in the areas of the human brain organogenesis technology, behavioral and functional neuroscience models, viral vectors, and imaging technology. Under this program, we engage with the national neuroscience community to disseminate essential resources and emerging technologies to a growing user network through a Pilot Study Program and Annual Workshops. Collectively, our vision of SPrINT is to provide an integrated platform in which users can engage multiple modalities or can expand their research to areas outside their expertise.
Neuroscience AntiBody Open Resource (NABOR)
Posted on April 18th, 2023
This resource is an open-access recombinant antibody/affinity reagent repository for the neuroscience community called Neuroscience AntiBody Open Resource (NABOR). Reliable access to affinity reagents validated for use in diverse neuroscience research applications is crucial to accomplishing numerous goals of the BRAIN Initiative. Currently available affinity reagents from companies can be variable in quality and the molecular identity of the material is completely unknown to scientists. Addgene has built an open-access library and is providing plasmids, sequences, and ready to use protein-format antibodies.
NeuroTools
Posted on March 21st, 2023
The UNC Neuroscience Center NeuroTools Vector Core provides custom viral vectors tailored for neuroscience experiments. We work directly with investigators to provide optimal combinations of payloads, capsids/pseudo-types, titers, and purity. We will modify our production protocol to meet your specfic needs. We also assist with vector design and viral vector performance trouble-shooting.
CellREADR
Posted on October 17th, 2022
CellREADR (Cell access through RNA sensing by Endogenous ADAR) is a new class of RNA sensing technology to achieve genetic access of cell types and cell states. It leverages RNA editing mediated by ADAR (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA) to couple the detection of cell-defining RNAs with translation of effector proteins. CellREADR enables monitoring and manipulating of animal cells in ways that are specific, simple, versatile, programmable, and generalizable across organ systems and species.
Neuroscience Multi-omic Archive (NeMO Archive)
Posted on August 19th, 2022
Neuroscience Multi-Omic Archive is a data repository focused on the storage and dissemination of -omics data generated from the BRAIN Initiative and related brain research projects. Primary data of interest to NeMO includes both transcriptomic and epigenetic data including transcription factor binding sites and other regulatory elements, histone modification profiles and chromatin accessibility, levels of cytosine modification, and genomic regions associated with brain abnormalities and disease. Sequence-level data for human samples consented with restrictions are made available through an approval process in conjunction with the NIMH Data Archive and NeMO archive. The NeMO Archive is consistent with the principles advanced by the NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science, including FAIR Principles, documentation of APIs, data-indexing systems, workflow sharing, use of shareable software pipelines and storage on cloud-based systems.
MORF (MOnonucleotide Repeat Frameshift) Genetic Sparse Cell Labeling
Posted on June 15th, 2022
The MORF strategy addresses the need for a simple, generalizable, and scalable method to sparsely label genetically-defined neuronal populations by developing reporter mouse lines conferring Cre-dependent sparse cell labeling methodology based on MOnonucleotide Repeat Frameshift (MORF) as a stochastic translational switch. The suite of MORF reporter mice labels about 1-5% of Cre+ neurons and glia distributed stochastically throughout the brain and can be imaged with endogenous fluorescence (mNeonGreen in MORF1 and EGFP in TIGRE-MORF/Ai166) or stained for a multivalent immunoreporter (Spaghetti Monster fluorescent protein V5, or smFP-V5, in MORF3). As a resource for both the BRAIN Initiative and general neuroscience communities, MORF enables the labeling and reconstruction of thousands of genetically defined cells per brain for large-scale, unbiased classification and quantitative analyses of CNS cell types brainwide.
postASAP
Posted on June 15th, 2022
This new tool, a genetically-encoded voltage sensor (GEVI) was modified for enhanced sensitivity and targeted to dendrites and dendritic spines by adding a nanobody against PSD95 (FingR.PSD95). With this voltage sensor, named postASAP, we are capable to measure voltage signals under two-photon microscopy in vivo in pyramidal neurons of the mouse cortex. With postASAP, we can detect in living animals backpropagation of action potentials, dendritic activity, and isolated synaptic potentials in dendritic spines.
NeuroNex: Bioluminescence Hub
Posted on August 13th, 2021
We are building a suite of bioluminescent molecular tools for controlling cells and tracking activity, as well as hardware (most notably, microscopes) to optimize their use. The NeuroNex Bioluminescence hub systematically develops and disseminates these novel and powerful tools for brain science.
Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicators (GEVIs)
Posted on October 26th, 2020
We are developing genetically encoded indicators for monitoring voltage in vivo (GEVIs). Our tools can use the same wavelengths and equipment as used for imaging calcium indicators. We are open to new collaborators to deploy or benchmark these indicators for new applications, model systems, and/or imaging modalities.