Speaker name: Dr. Sagnik Middya
Date: 5th January 2026
Time: 3PM
Venue: S V Narasaiah Auditorium
Abstract: Decoding brain function requires tools capable of simultaneously probing neural activity across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Electrophysiology, using microelectrode arrays (MEAs), offers unmatched temporal resolution, while optical imaging enables the targeting of specific cell types and molecular processes with high spatial precision. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accesses deep brain regions and large-scale networks, serving as the cornerstone of clinical neuroimaging. However, achieving true multimodal integration is challenging due to the fundamental incompatibility among these methods, particularly the opacity of conventional metallic electrodes and their magnetic susceptibility mismatch with biological tissue.
This work introduces a new class of optically transparent and MRI-compatible MEAs based on the conducting polymer poly(3,4‑ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). PEDOT:PSS electrodes are widely adopted in neural interfaces for their biocompatibility, low impedance, and superior signal-to-noise ratio. The transparent MEAs facilitate simultaneous electrical recordings and calcium imaging from neurons and allow super-resolved imaging of diffraction-limited cellular structures, in addition to state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging. Flexible versions of these MEAs find broader applications – they provide high-resolution chronic neural recordings in vivo and support MRI with minimal signal distortion. Additionally, flexible MEAs are well-suited for long-term interfacing with brain organoids, enabling continuous electrophysiology for months. It is expected that these versatile, transparent PEDOT:PSS MEAs will expand the capabilities of neuroscience research by combining complementary electrophysiology and imaging.
Bio:
Dr. Sagnik Middya completed his B.Tech (2017) in Electronics and Electrical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, where he focused on biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics. He then pursued an M.Res and PhD (2023) in bioelectronics at the University of Cambridge, developing conducting polymer-based multi-modal neural interfaces for neuroscience research. After his doctoral studies, Sagnik joined as an early employee at Coherence Neuro, a Cambridge-based startup specializing in neural interfaces with applications in therapy and management of brain and peripheral cancers. Currently, he is a postdoctoral researcher at University of California San Francisco, where his research centres on cancer neuroscience, investigating the interactions between neurons and brain tumours (glioma) and their impact on cancer progression.