The operation of the neurobiology laboratory in Eilat will be the main thrust of the center. The laboratory will serve as a working place for joint projects, either between Israel-German collaborators, or groups within Israel or Germany, who would like to conduct a combined study where a short concentrated effort can yield significant results. As a first stage, we will build a modern brain slice setup that will enable voltage and current measurements as well as single channel analyses. This will cover a wide range of possibilities to carry out various scientific projects that are based on the in-vitro slice technique. At a later stage, this setup will be expanded to accommodate imaging capabilities. The accessibility to such a setup in a laboratory in Eilat should be an attractive option for various groups in Israel and Germany interested in conducting short scientific projects. We trust that such a facility will give rise to new exchanges between Israeli scientists as well as between Israel and Germany. To achieve this goal the laboratory will operate all year round with a team of local scientists who will use and maintain the facilities in good working condition. The laboratory will take advantage of the accessibility to the unique animal models of the Red Sea. Research will focus on the shark electro-receptive system. This system is capable of predicting sensory inputs resulting from the animal's own actions and is able to modulate its circuitry to cope with new environmental conditions. Thus, the electro-receptive system, in addition to being fascinating on its own merit, is also an outstanding model for basic brain functions.
