Project Overview

Optogenetics, defined as a technique where light-sensitive genes are introduced into brain cells to control their activity with light, allows researchers to precisely control nerve cell communication thereby, transforming brain research. The Canadian Optogenetics and Vectrology Foundry (COVF) places Canada at the forefront of this field by accelerating the development of new light-responsive genes and proteins.

In the last 3 years, the platform has distributed thousands of tools to more than 700 labs in Canada and abroad. COVF fast-tracks the creation of new light-responsive genes and proteins using a collaborative, open science Design-Build-Test-Learn loop in biological engineering. This involves designing optogenetic tools at the DNA level, incorporating them into viruses, and delivering them into various cell and tissue types for testing and validation. This approach not only speeds up the development of gene therapies but also the ability to constantly adapt to changing needs in the field of neuroscience. New tools are tested in dedicated labs on a range of models, from simple organisms to mice, non-human primates, and human cells. This process is essential for advancing diagnostics, drug development, and clinical applications.

All results from testing various optogenetic tools are openly shared with the scientific community through an accessible open-science platform.

With renewed Platform Support Grant support from Brain Canada, COVF plans to expand its capabilities by increasing the diversity and quality of optogenetic tools, enhancing viral vector properties, and scaling up production to meet the growing demand for research and clinical applications. This support will ensure that COVF remains a leader in optogenetics, driving the development and democratization of transformative tools for the global neuroscience community.

Principal Investigator

Yves De Koninck , Université Laval

Team Members

Thomas Durcan, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University

Keith Murai, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Robert Campbell, University of Alberta

Edward Fon, McGill University

Michel Bouvier, University of Montreal

Martin Bohlen, Duke University

Sébastien Tremblay, Université Laval

Reza Sharif-Naeini, McGill University

Tomoko Ohyama, McGill University

Edward Ruthazer, McGill University

Rochelin Dalangin, Université Laval

Marie-Eve Paquet, Co-Principal Investigator, Université Laval

Partners and Donors

Centre de recherche CERVO du CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale

L’Institut de recherche en immunologie et en cancérologie (IRIC) de l’Université de Montréal

The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Université Laval