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Brain and mental illnesses exist close to us. Neuropsychiatric disorders are constantly on the rise. These include not only brain diseases associated with ageing such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases,but also disorders such as autism and depression. The Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience (CNP) at the Lausanne University Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois: CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland is dedicated to finding effective solutions in this field.
The CNP aims to build bridges between the laboratory and clinical practice to understand neuropsychiatric disorders and develop effective treatments, for the good health and well-being of people worldwide — with Nikon microscopes playing a vital role in this research.
Two initiatives that utilize research in clinical practice
Head of the CNP
Professor Pierre Marquet
*Position and affiliation mentioned are as of the time of the interview
The CNP is a center of excellence for translational research*1 in psychiatric neuroscience — focusing on a wide range of pathologies, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, addictions and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. Its role is to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying diseases and translate these discoveries into treatments for patients.
“The CNP fosters close collaboration between researchers and clinicians, ensuring that its work remains rooted in clinical reality,” explains the Head of the CNP, Professor Pierre Marquet.
Nikon Ambassador for Cell Imaging and Analysis for Neuroscience
Head of Research
Kevin Richetin, PhD
*Position and affiliation mentioned are as of the time of the interview.
The CNP is advancing psychiatric research through two complementary initiatives. The first focus on basic science, aiming to uncover biological mechanisms that underlie psychiatric disorders and give rise to their symptoms.
The other is patient-oriented research, carried out in close collaboration with clinical departments. This work involves in-depth studies of patients using advanced approaches, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalogram (EEG) and cognitive assessments, as well as the collection of biological samples.
These two complementary approaches incorporate a biological component into clinical research through the identification of reliable biomarkers*2 that can predict risk at an early stage, before the onset of disabling symptoms.
Moreover, this research should enable clinicians to propose personalized treatments based on individual biological profiles, possibly with preventive aims, as well as to optimize existing therapies and develop new therapeutics to stimulate drug discovery research.
- *1Translational research: A research field that aims to translate the results of basic research into clinical applications, and to generate knowledge that directly relates to patient treatment and diagnosis.
- *2Biomarker: A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissue that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease.
Essential tools for realizing advances
“Nikon ECLIPSE Ji microscopes are essential tools for research into neuropsychiatric diseases to realize these initiatives effectively,” the Head of Research, Dr. Kevin Richetin explains.
The ECLIPSE Ji enables researchers to obtain a wide range of image and analysis data, from cell-level to broader range data. Because it allows a variety of analytical observations, it enables the study of both in vivo animal models and in vitro cell models of major neuropsychiatric diseases. In addition, AI will be able to assist with many tasks ranging from observation to analysis, contributing to more efficient research. Moreover, it provides an integrated software platform, NIS-Elements, for automated analysis and acquisition, increasing the reproducibility of experiments and traceability.
Dr. Richetin adds that, “We believe it has the potential to evolve according to our future needs, such as by combining various imaging methods to better capture many sides of these complex diseases.”
(blue: cell nuclei, green and red: 2 populations of interneurons)
(blue: cell nuclei, green: hippocampal astrocytes, red: subpopulation of astrocytes)
Optimal tailor-made solutions for each patient
Early detection combined with individualized treatment methods leads to more effective patient care.
“We dream of microscopy at the heart of neuropsychiatric medicine,” says Dr. Richetin, “which will enable early diagnosis and personalized treatment as part of prevention strategies.”
Professor Marquet explains, “The integration of Nikon microscopes and artificial intelligence will one day allow us to see brain cells and tissue like never before—unlocking personalized treatments for every patient.”
Both researchers expect that Nikon will continue to innovate by combining technological performance and advanced automation with the flexibility to adapt its microscopes.
“In short, we see Nikon as a visionary partner capable of supporting cutting-edge research and paving the way for concrete advances in medicine, particularly in the field of neuropsychiatric diseases, which are major challenges for our societies today and going forward into the future,” Dr. Richetin concludes.
Nikon is committed to continuing its support for researchers and working hand in hand with them, to contribute to a sustainable future for everyone.