Abstract: An example material testing apparatus includes: guide means; sample holding means for holding a sample; force means for applying force to the sample; a crosshead arranged to support at least a portion of one or both of the sample holding means and the force means, wherein the crosshead is moveable about the guide means; automated clamping means configured to apply a releasable clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead to secure the crosshead at a location with respect to the guide means, and a controller configured to control the automated clamping means to apply the clamping force between the guide means and the crosshead.

Abstract: Screening compounds by exposing a plurality of cardiomyocytes to a compound, wherein the cardiomyocytes express an optogenetic reporter of membrane potential and an optogenetic reporter of calcium level; receiving light from the optogenetic reporter of membrane potential; creating an AP waveform using the received light; and analyzing the AP waveform to determine the presence or absence of a risk for arrhythmia associated with the compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of assessing communication between cells. Methods of the invention use optical reporters of cellular electrical activity to evaluate signal propagation between cells and can be used to study an individual synapse or a complex network of interconnected cells. Aspects of the invention provide a method for characterizing signal propagation between cells. The method includes providing a first cell containing a light-generating reporter and a second cell, in which the first cell and the second cell are in communication. The second cell may contain an optical actuator of cellular electrical activity. The second cell is exposed to a stimulus and an optical signal from the first cell is detected.

Abstract: Screening compounds by exposing a plurality of cardiomyocytes to a compound, wherein the cardiomyocytes express an optogenetic reporter of membrane potential and an optogenetic reporter of calcium level; receiving light from the optogenetic reporter of membrane potential; creating an AP waveform using the received light; and analyzing the AP waveform to determine the presence or absence of a risk for arrhythmia associated with the compound.