Medical Physics

Develop new approaches and hardware to shape and control ultrasound for biomedical applications in Peer Fischer’s group. The project investigates fundamental effects and dynamic ultrasound-field projection. Work begins in Heidelberg, with activity expected to move to the institute’s new Heilbronn site when it opens. This vacancy belongs to the September 2026 Max Planck Postdoc Program call, which accepts applications until 13 October 2026 at 12:00 CEST through the official application platform.

CUPC brings undergraduate physics researchers together to present and discuss their work through student talks, posters, keynote lectures and panels. The 61st conference spans physics disciplines, with medical and biological physics, health and nuclear physics, research-facility tours, and a graduate-studies and industry fair. Confirmed keynote participants include Bruce Gaulin, Anastasia Smolina, Arthur B. McDonald and Christopher Malcolmson. The meeting is in person at McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, on 15–18 October 2026. All programme times are EDT (America/Toronto, UTC−4). The published outline starts with check-in at 14:30 and opening remarks at 15:45 on 15 October, followed by the opening keynote at 16:00. Friday starts at 08:00, Saturday presentations at 09:00, and Sunday refreshments at 09:30; closing remarks finish at 12:15 on 18 October. The schedule is subject to change, and detailed room assignments will follow. Registration costs CAD 195 plus 13% HST and includes the listed conference meals and activities. Register through Showpass by 5 October. Tickets are non-refundable; optional refund protection is available during booking.

The Neuro’s open competition supports postdoctoral research in Montreal through five named awards: Jeanne Timmins, Molson Neuroengineering, Redpoll, Brenda Milner and Armando Ortiz. Awards range from CAD 40,000 to 50,000; themes include clinical/basic neuroscience, neuroengineering, neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration, cognition, and focused-ultrasound neurosurgery. Select the relevant award on the application form and review its specific degree and research conditions. The Ortiz award gives preference to applicants from Latin America and/or Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Apply by October 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

NIMH funds development of new or substantially improved brain-stimulation devices for mental health research and treatment applications. Relevant work includes greater spatial or temporal precision, closed-loop control and multi-site stimulation, with proof-of-concept hardware or software development. Clinical trials are not allowed. Support is up to USD 275,000 in direct costs over two years, with a USD 200,000 annual limit. The next new-application deadline is 16 October 2026 at 5 p.m. in the applicant organisation’s local time.

Tatsuya Osaki examines vascular contributions to autism spectrum disorder, focusing on blood–brain barrier integrity and cerebral blood-flow dynamics during early development. Rett syndrome provides a starting point: MeCP2 mutations impair endothelial function, suggesting that vascular cells themselves contribute to disease mechanisms. A three-dimensional microphysiological model built from human induced pluripotent stem cells recreates blood–brain barrier structure and function. Patient-derived endothelial cells form perfusable microvascular networks but show impaired barrier function, a finding independently corroborated in MeCP2-knockout mice. Transcriptomic analyses implicate increased miR-126 expression and disrupted tight junctions; inhibiting miR-126-3p restores barrier function and identifies a potential therapeutic target. The work is extending to hemodynamic changes in other autism subtypes, with two-photon imaging providing in-vivo cross-validation, to identify shared neurovascular mechanisms and candidate interventions.

La resonancia magnética nuclear está basada en el fenómeno del magnetismo nuclear que más aplicaciones ha encontrado para el estudio de enfermedades humanas. Usualmente la señal de RM es recibida y transmitida a distancias cercanas al objeto del que se quiere obtener una imagen. Otra alternativa es emitir y recibir la misma señal de manera remota haciendo uso de guías de onda. Este enfoque tiene la ventaja que se puede aplicar a altos campos magnéticos, la absorción de energía es menor, además es posible cubrir mayores regiones de interés y comodidad para el paciente. Por otro lado, sufre de baja calidad de imagen en algunos casos. En esta ocasión hablaremos de nuestra experiencia haciendo uso de este enfoque empleando una guía de ondas abierta y metamateriales tanto para sistemas clínicos como preclínicos de IRM.