Support of a Vessel for the Collection of Live Marine Organisms for Neurobiological Research and Education

34年来，在美国国家科学基金会的宝贵支持下，MBL鱿鱼项目使神经生物学家、生理学家和生物化学家能够研究神经系统的基本特性。从5月到9月，60多名研究人员、博士后和学生来到MBL，专门利用北大西洋长鳍鱿鱼Loligo pealei进行基础和生物医学研究。另有60名学生参加暑期课程，以鱿鱼为模型准备学习神经系统。巨大的轴突、星状神经节和眼睛是鱿鱼的独特特征，使它们成为神经生物学的首要生物学模型，并继续为突触传递、神经冲动传播、细胞修复、轴突运输和细胞器运动以及离子通道分布和功能的机制提供重要突破。在过去4年里发表在100多篇期刊文章中的许多研究，根本无法在任何其他物种中完成。MBL鱿鱼收集计划通过促进独立研究者、研究员和暑期课程之间的研究和教育的交叉交流，具有广泛的影响。该项目促进了独立实验室之间的网络和伙伴关系，否则这些实验室无法负担得起收集活鱿鱼进行研究的资金。最终，该项目将在解开从鱿鱼神经元收集的生理数据的遗传和分子基础方面产生最广泛的影响。过去，美国国家科学基金会资助了夏季鱿鱼采集费用的50%，其余费用由调查人员和MBL承担。这笔拨款的性质类似于对一种非常昂贵的仪器的支持，许多研究人员依赖这种仪器，但没有任何一个实验室甚至实验室小组能够负担得起。这笔拨款将使美国国家科学基金会的这项重要支持得以延续，这项支持将有助于维持一艘研究拖网渔船的服务，并在5月至9月期间为研究人员提供活鱿鱼。

For 34 years, the MBL squid program, with invaluable support from NSF, has enabled neurobiologists, physiologists, and biochemists to study fundamental properties of the nervous system. Over 60 investigators, post-doctorates, and students come to the MBL from May through September specifically to conduct basic and biomedical research using the North Atlantic Long-Finned Squid Loligo pealei. Another 60 students participate in summer courses using squid as model preparations for learning about the nervous system. The giant axon, stellate ganglia and eye are unique features of squid that make them a premiere biological model for neurobiology, and one that continues to provide vital breakthroughs into mechanisms of synaptic transmission, nerve impulse propagation, cell repair, axonal transport and organelle motility, and ion channel distribution and function. Many of these studies, published in over 100 journal articles in the last 4 years, simply could not be accomplished in any other species. The MBL squid collection program has a broad impact by promoting a cross-exchange of research and education between independent investigators, fellows and the summer courses. The program fosters networking and partnership between independent labs that could not otherwise afford to fund the collection of live squid to conduct their research. Ultimately, the program will have its broadest impact in unlocking the genetic and molecular basis for physiological data gathered from squid neurons.In the past, NSF has supported about 50% of the cost of squid collection in the summer, with the investigators and the MBL covering the remaining costs. The nature of this grant is similar to support for a highly expensive instrument that many investigators depend on but no individual laboratory or even group of laboratories can afford. This award will allow a continuation of this vital NSF support which will help maintain the services of a research trawling vessel, and provide live squid to researchers from May through September.