The Florey hosts advanced course for budding neuroscientists
That is how Professor Chris Reid describes the Australasian Course in Advanced Neuroscience (ACAN), an intensive three-week course equipping students with advanced skills in designing and implementing state-of-the-art experimental techniques in neuroscience.
Hosted this year at the Florey, the next generation of bright minds in neuroscience will be able to learn techniques including patch-clamp recording, calcium imaging, optogenetics and pharmacogenetics.
Dr Melody Li completed ACAN in 2018 and says the experience was invaluable to her research career.
“The hands-on component was a real highlight. By the end of the course, I had been given the opportunity to perform electrode recording and calcium imaging in neuronal cultures, brain slices and animal models,” says Dr Li.
“ACAN is a great opportunity to connect with neuroscientists at different career stages and gain insights from leaders in the field. I’ve since applied the knowledge I learned to my own research in genetic epilepsies.”
The 2021 course is an initiative of the Australian Neuroscience Society and has received support from the University of Melbourne. Generous support from The Finkel Foundation has also enabled the inclusion of a dedicated 2-photo imaging / electrophysiology set up to compliment an array of in vitro and in vivo recording techniques.