Neuroverse 13. A Podcast by Neuroverse: Tools for Looking into the Brain - The Electric Connection between the Heart and Nervous System (Dr Laura Fedele)
About the episode
In the thirteenth episode of Tools for Looking into the Brain, produced in collaboration with the Neuroverse Podcast, Clara and Carolina speak with Dr Laura Fedele, a neuroscientist and postdoctoral researcher, about the fascinating relationship between the heart and the nervous system. Drawing on her work using in vitro models to recreate these interactions in the laboratory, Laura shares insights from her extensive experience investigating the electrical properties of a wide range of cell types with patch clamp electrophysiology. She also discusses how ion channels influence the function of electrically active cells, alongside the translational significance and potential clinical impact of her research.
As part of her research, Laura’s lab uses Scientifica’s SliceScope Pro system.
Scientifica SliceScope Pro 1000
An integrated electrophysiology system for patch clamp recording. The versatility of the system means that you can perform slice electrophysiology, fluorescent imaging, and in vivo experiments.
About Dr Laura Fedele
Dr Laura Fedele is a postdoctoral research associate at the Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre (Wolfson SPaRC) at King's College London, currently investigating signalling pathways that regulate the activity of autonomic neurons. Previously, Laura completed a BSc in Neuroscience at the University of Dundee, she then moved to University College London to do first a Master in Neuroscience and then undertake a PhD on NMDA receptor dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders. Following this, Laura carried out postdoctoral research on the cellular physiology of cardiomyocytes at Imperial College London, before making the switch to peripheral neuroscience, employing human in vitro models of sensory neurons in the context of pain and subsequently establishing human autonomic neuron cultures for in vitro research. She is now bringing together her experience to investigate how neurons and cardiomyocytes interact.
Dr Laura Fedele
About Carolina and Clara
Carolina and Clara are both neuroscientists and curious about the world and our perception of it. Their love of exploring ideas and building connections across disciplines drew them to the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Together, they established Neuroverse as a platform for exploring and sharing ideas within and beyond neuroscience. Their goal is to create content that is accessible and engaging for both scientists and non-scientists alike.
Left to right: Carolina Soares, Clara Lenherr
The podcast series
In collaboration with Neuroverse, this podcast series, "Tools for Looking into the Brain," is dedicated to creating engaging and informative content exploring various techniques used by researchers in neuroscience (with a focus on electrophysiology), as well as general advice on navigating the world or research. Throughout this series, we'll have special guest appearances, offering valuable insights and perspectives from experts in the field.
