CRI: In Vivo Neural Gene Imaging Using a Novel Radiation Detector

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IBN: 9602865 PI: Saha It is of great interest to neuroscientists studying brain development and function to be able to follow gene expression which is directed by the genetic code stored in each cell of an organism. Presently if one wants to understand what part of the genetic code is being used in a developing embryo of a laboratory mouse or what genes are activated in response to varous pharmacological treatments, one must sacrifice the organism and then use molecular biology techniques to study the genes being activated. This method is essentially taking only a 'snapshot' of the genetic processes occurring. One then needs to begin anew with another organism and hope to take another 'snapshot' at the right time. This proposed project will use new radiation imaging methods that have been developed for particle physics research together with techniques used in medical imaging to allow the neuroscientist to image the gene activation patterns in an organism in vivo, that is, without having to sacrifice the embryo. This will enable us to produce a continuous account of the genetic processes occurring within the nervous system. Our ultimate goal is to produce a detector system capable of imaging genes during development and in response to various experimental pharmacological treatments -- a system which will eventually be applied to better understanding and treating human neurological disease.