Botond Roska

Long-time Collaborators Botond Roska and José-Alain Sahel Win International Prize for Translational Neuroscience

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Molecular biology, Faculty, IOB, Human, Natural science, University, Doctor of Philosophy, Optogenetics, Max Planck Society, Eye, Light, Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board, Brain, Retina, COVID, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Cell, DSM-IV codes, Science, MD, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Patient, Louis Pasteur University, Neuroscience, Botond Roska, Translational neuroscience, Gene, Distinguishing, Wilfrid Sellars, International Prize (Fyssen Foundation), Sahel, Pharmaceutical industry, Nature Medicine, Medicine, Ophthalmology

The two scientists met in 2001 while Roska was studying for a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology in Berkeley, US. He had come to Strasbourg, France, to spend a month at Louis Pasteur University, where Sahel was then a laboratory director. Late one night, Roska succeeded in recording the activity of some retinal cells, and his boisterous reaction prompted Sahel --who was upstairs and still working-- to investigate the commotion. “Suddenly, Dr. Sahel was there at the door, asking ‘What is going on here?’” Roska says. “So, I showed him my recordings, and we spent hours discussing the research.”

Key Points: 
  • The €60,000 annual prize rewards biomedical scientists and clinicians who make exceptional contributions toward the understanding of neurobiology and neurological diseases.
  • The two scientists met in 2001 while Roska was studying for a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology in Berkeley, US.
  • “Suddenly, Dr. Sahel was there at the door, asking ‘What is going on here?’” Roska says.
  • Roska and I share a common enthusiasm and keen interest in science, and our collaboration continually produces new ideas.

Roska group researchers find: When unconscious, the brain is anything but ‘silent’

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Cortex, Consciousness, Medicine, IOB, Association, Unconsciousness, Cell, Anesthesia, Brain, EEG, Time, Scalp, Botond Roska, Anesthetic, Face, Electrode, Cerebral cortex, Entertainment, Wood, Neuron

Improving our understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of general anesthesia could lead to better anesthetic drugs and improved surgical outcomes.

Key Points: 
  • Improving our understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of general anesthesia could lead to better anesthetic drugs and improved surgical outcomes.
  • Thus, they communicate both between different cortical areas, as well as from the cortex to other areas of the brain.
  • Prior work has proposed that loss of consciousness occurs through the disconnection of cortex from the rest of the brain.
  • Maybe this will help researchers develop new drugs to more specifically target the cells in the brain associated with unconsciousness.

Optogenetic Methods Restore Partial Vision in a Blind Patient

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 24, 2021
Branches of biology, Biology, Life sciences, Brain–computer interfacing, Cybernetics, Neural engineering, Neuroscience, Optics, Optogenetics, Botond Roska, Retina, Gene therapy

This is a milestone towards a gene therapy that could restore vision.

Key Points: 
  • This is a milestone towards a gene therapy that could restore vision.
  • A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image:
    Paris, Pittsburgh, Basel, May 24th, 2021- Clinical trial results announced today show for the first time that optogenetic methods can partially restore vision in a blind human patient.
  • "The findings provide proof-of-concept that using optogenetic therapy to partially restore vision is possible" says last and corresponding author Botond Roska, Founding Director at IOB and Professor at the University of Basel.
  • To restore light-sensing capability, the team uses gene therapy methods to deliver channelrhodopsins into the retina's ganglion cells.