Biomechanics of Neural Tube Development using Brillouin-OCT Multimodality

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PROJECT SUMMARY The objective of this proposal is to understand how tissue elasticity regulates neural tube closure (NTC) in the moue embryo. The proposal focuses on developing live imaging approaches to visualize and quantify tissue elasticity with an advanced elastic imaging modality, Reverberant 3D OCE (Rev3D-OCE). By determining how tissue elasticity changes longitudinally through development, I will generate the first elasticity maps of the embryonic neural tube. With this information, I will overlay neural epithelia cell migration patterns to determine if these cells are using durotaxis, a form of cell migration where cells are guided by stiffness gradients, as means to successfully execute neural tube closure. This work is significant because after congenital heart disease, neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most prevalent structural birth defect. While great advances have been made in determining the genetic and environmental causes of NTDs, its persistence in the human population demands that we further elucidate the underlying causes to this detrimental defect. This proposal is also designed to serve as a training opportunity. My future goal is to become a multidisciplinary researcher at an academic institution. Completing the work proposed in this application will give me the opportunity to develop novel optical and live imaging tools, enhance my understanding of embryology and developmental biology, and challenge me to be independent and persistent in my research.