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2025 Neuropixels and OpenScope Workshop
In this workshop, participants will gain in-depth exposure to the tools and techniques used by the Allen Institute to collect in vivo physiology data at scale. Lectures, demonstrations, and lab tours will cover all aspects of generating high-quality physiology datasets, from surgery to behavior training to neural recordings. Participants will also learn how to access data from the Allen Brain Observatory and about the OpenScope program.
Applications are now open and are due March 1, 2025.
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About This Event
In this workshop, you will gain in-depth exposure to the tools and techniques used by the Allen Institute to collect in vivo physiology data at scale. The Allen Institute was a key contributor to the initial development of Neuropixels probes (along with researchers and engineers at HHMI Janelia Research Campus, University College London, and imec), which are quickly becoming the standard for extracellular electrophysiology recordings. The Institute has also pioneered rigs and protocols needed for high-throughput recordings from the mouse visual system and beyond, which are now accessible to the community via the BRAIN Initiative–funded OpenScope program.
In this workshop, participants from around the world will have the opportunity to tour our in vivo electrophysiology and imaging facilities and learn the details of these methods from Allen Institute and UW scientists and staff. Lectures and demonstrations will cover all aspects of generating high-quality physiology datasets, from surgery to behavior training to neural recordings. Participants will also learn how to access data from the Allen Brain ObservatoryYou can expect to come away from the workshop with a better understanding of proven techniques for improving the quality and throughput of recordings in your own lab.
Applications are now open and are due March 1, 2025. All applicants will be notified of a decision on their application by June 1. The workshop is geared towards graduate students, postdocs, staff scientists, and PIs with some experience with in vivo recordings.
The Neuropixels and OpenScope Workshop is being planned as an in-person event. We will not offer hybrid or remote participation at this workshop. We reserve the right to make changes to the event agenda or plans due to Covid. If conducting the workshop in person becomes impossible due to Covid-related safety concerns, it will be rescheduled to a later date.
There is no fee to participate in the workshop. Participants are responsible for their own travel costs.
This workshop is supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U24NS113646 (OpenScope Program), and by the National Science Foundation under Award 2142911 (Neuropixels – Steinmetz Lab ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Neuropixels and OpenScope Workshop
Workshop tracks
The workshop will last 3 days. All participants will complete the Foundations of Neuropixels and introduction to the Allen Brain Observatory on July 9 – 10. A subset will continue to Advanced Neuropixels Techniques on July 11; space in the advanced training is more limited. The program includes in-lab demos and tours, presentations, and discussions. Topics are subject to change and additional topics may be added. See Workshop Tracks section below.
Foundations of Neuropixels and introduction to the Allen Brain Observatory – all participants (July 9 – 10):
- Days 1 and 2 will be held at the Allen Institute.
- Lectures and demonstrations on surgical techniques, mouse behavioral training, Neuropixels probe insertion and recording, Neuropixels data acquisition software.
- Roundtable discussions with Allen Institute and UW scientists.
- Introduction to the OpenScope program.
Advanced Neuropixels Techniques – advanced track participants only (July 11):
- Day 3 will be held at the Steinmetz Lab at the University of Washington.
- Lecture on chronic Neuropixels recording.
- Latest Neuropixels hardware developments: 2.0 Quad Base, NHP, Ultra, and Opto probes; OneBox recording system
- Lab demonstrations on multi-shank probes and combining Neuropixels with imaging.
- Hands-on demos of Phy and Pinpoint software
- Further discussions with Allen Institute and UW scientists.
