Inaugural NPC Summer School Offers Hands-On Experience Showcasing Outstanding BU Neurovascular Imaging Facilities
By Danny Giancioppo | Photos by Danny Giancioppo
Launched in summer 2026, the Boston University Neurophotonics Center (BU-NPC) hosted Professor Anna Devor’s inaugural, two-week Neurophotonics Summer School program for graduate students and postdocs, “Neurovascular Imaging Across Scales in Animals and Humans.” In mice, researchers are able to use high resolution microscopic imaging, whereas in humans, research is comparably used through macroscopic fNIRS studies; hence, “across scales.” Over the course of thirteen days of hands-on research, this summer learning opportunity provides a research workshop experience in imaging brain activity with the goal of advancing participants’ ability to handle neurophotonic technologies for imaging neuronal, vascular, and metabolic function in health and disease.
Focusing in cellular and systems-level neuroscience and noninvasive imaging in her own research, Professor Devor describes the program as graduate participants progressing “from very basic knowledge in the domain to being able to acquire, analyze, and interpret imaging data.”
Moreover, participants gain “a comprehensive suite of imaging technologies under the same roof for measurement of neuronal, vascular and metabolic brain activity. For example, in addition to multiphoton calcium imaging, we cover optical coherence tomography, oxygen imaging, and functional ultrasound. There’s more to the brain than neurons, and neurons do not work alone! Further, we include [fNIRS] applicable to humans!”
This year, our Summer School brought together about thirty participants, inviting them to learn from word-class experts alongside hands-on research projects supervised by our own graduate students.
“BU-NPC is unique in a sense that we have a wide range of tools for animal and human imaging and the Neurophotonics Graduate Training Program,” Professor Devor says. “Of course, we also have an amazing scientific community, including our generous colleagues at Harvard and MIT. So all the ingredients for a successful Summer School in Neurophotonics are in place!”
With a focus on in vivo brain imaging in mice and fNIRS in humans, and leveraging outstanding facilities at Boston University, program participants were able to advance their own understanding and practical ability to conduct neuroscience research utilizing state-of-the-art instrumentation.
Instituted through hands-on lab training, seminars, and participant research projects, participants spent the first four days of the two-week program rotating between seven different imaging technology setups, learning the theory behind each modality and observing practical demonstrations––with each demonstration led by BU-NPC graduate students, postdocs, junior faculty and staff. Following these demonstrations, participants worked in groups of three-to-five students, where each group focused on one such technology to design and run a “pilot” research project. On the last day, each group presented their projects and results, where the top three presentations won awards.
“Our Summer School is focused on brain imaging tools that can be applied in many settings to address many neuroscience questions,” Devor explains. “The main goal of the school is to acquire this practical knowledge to ensure that trainees leave the program with sufficient “know-how” expertise to successfully carry out neuroimaging projects in their home universities.”
“For the local BU students, this is a great opportunity to get hands-on teaching experience,” Devor adds, saying that aiding participants in this immersive research experience builds not only skills and knowledge but also human ties and exposure to the top tier scientific environment.
The benefits aren’t limited to just graduate students, however. By creating greater summer research opportunities such as this, the Neurophotonics Center continues to build upon its leadership in the dissemination of brain imaging technologies, while uplifting a wider generation of new scientists who endeavor to advance the understanding of brain mechanisms.
“We hope to continue this program for years to come!” Devor says. “We know that there is a lot of demand out there, and we have the ability to help!”