Advancing neuroscience: functional insights from in vitro microelectrode arrays

The neuroscience field is rapidly evolving as both a burgeoning area for basic research (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to name just a few) and as a focus area for commercial therapeutics.  However, research and drug discovery in this field is often hindered by the low-throughput of many of the established techniques.  In addition, many of the common assays used require advanced expertise and are quite costly. 

Enter the microelectrode array (MEA) and the Maestro platform from Axion BioSystems:  a simple approach to measuring complex, functional neural responses at the throughput level you need.  Together with integrated control software, the Maestro makes acquisition and analysis of neural networks accessible, straightforward, and scalable up to 96 wells.

After a brief introduction to MEA technology, we will showcase two examples of successful implementation of the Maestro platform into neuroscience research and discovery programs:

• John Graef, PhD from Bristol-Meyers Squibb will present on pain modeling using Dorsal Root Ganglia


• Carol Marchetto, PhD from the Salk Institute will speak about using the Maestro to explore network-level signaling in an in vitro autism model