FUSION: Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Retina: Integrating Physiological and Computational Approaches

To achieve this, a methodology is employed that combines experimentation and computational modeling and, through the use of real-time control techniques and feedback loops, a computational model of the retina will be applied to adjust visual stimulations in real-time according to the recorded responses of retinal cells. All experiments will be carried out in Valparaíso.

On this occasion, we spoke with Bruno Cessac, Inria Research Director, team leader of the BIOVISION project-team at the Inria Centre at Université Côte d'Azur, and Adrián Palacios, Professor Instituto de Neurociencia, Universidad de Valparaíso, researcher at the Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso. and the Instituto de Sistemas Complejos de Valparaíso. Both are leading the associate team FUSION: Functional structure of the retina: a physiological and computational approach. This project began at the beginning of 2024 and will continue for three years.

How did your associated team originate? How did you start collaborating initially?

Adrián Palacios: This is a long-standing collaboration with Bruno Cessac, since 2010, following an initial meeting at a conference in 2009. This partnership has evolved over the years, leveraging the strengths of both teams to push the boundaries of retinal research.

Bruno Cessac: We met at a conference in 2009 and since then we have collaborated on various projects, mainly related to research on the retina.

What does the work you are developing in your associate team consist of?

Adrián Palacios: The primary objective of the FUSION associate team is to model the retina using experimental data sourced from the retina recording obtained from the Valparaiso lab. This project entails the development of numerical methods to simulate and scrutinize these models, using the combined expertise of Inria and Valparaiso researchers to produce precise and detailed representations of retinal functionality. Bruno Cessac, who heads the Biovision team at Inria, has extensive experience in modeling neuronal dynamics through theoretical physics methods. His research focuses on understanding how the inner retinal network influences the receptive fields of ganglion cells through computational studies. In contrast, Adrián Palacios offers essential expertise in experimental neuroscience and engineering, providing vital physiological data to validate the models.

Bruno Cessac: Within the main tasks we have developed, we have focused on elaborating numerical methods to simulate and analyze the models, mainly in collaboration between Inria and the University of Valparaíso at its Neuroscience Center. With the BIOVISION team, we have developed models of neural dynamics.

What are the advantages of working on an international scientific cooperation project with an associated team?

Adrián Palacios: This partnership between French and Chilean teams has complementary expertise and good human interaction. Engaging in an international scientific collaboration project presents numerous advantages. The Chilean team contributes extensive expertise in neuroscience and engineering, while Inria offers deep proficiency in modeling and mathematical analysis. 

Bruno Cessac: The associate team is a useful tool for collaboration between different institutions, sharing experiences, and advancing new developments and discoveries. It is a positive initiative, and we hope that the funds allocated to research continue to grow so that we can delve deeper into the projects we are working on.

What is the contribution you are looking to make or the impact you are looking to have at the end of this project? 

Adrián Palacios: The principal scientific objective of the project is to introduce novel categories of stimuli and stimulation protocols aimed at elucidating the functional architecture of the retina through the analysis of spatiotemporal responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This endeavor represents a transdisciplinary challenge, integrating efficient simulation-acquisition methodologies with feedback-driven stimulation-control mechanisms to accurately target RGCs within a specified spatial domain, employing temporally dynamic stimuli that adapt in real-time to the observed retinal responses.

How does the work between the French and Chilean teams complement each other?

Adrián Palacios: The collaboration thrives as a result of the complementary expertise of both teams. The Chilean team exhibits exceptional proficiency in neuroscience and engineering, while the French team at Inria contributes its formidable strengths in modeling and mathematical analysis. This synergistic interaction augments the research quality and potential outcomes.

Bruno Cessac:  Another complementary area is the joint training of master and doctoral students, allowing them to spend time in our laboratories, thus generating a good coexistence of complementary work teams. Another example is the organization of LACONEU a School in Computational Neuroscience that we organize every two years in Valparaiso for which Inria has been involved in the organization since its origin.

What does it mean for you to have been selected in the Inria program for associated teams? 

Adrián Palacios: Being selected for the Inria program for associated teams is a testament to the project's quality and the team's dedication. It signifies that the project has been well evaluated and holds promise for making substantial contributions to the field.