Core Center for Balance Research

描述（由申请人提供）：平衡研究核心中心补助金 在匹兹堡大学的研究由两个核心组成，一个是动物前庭， 神经生理学核心（AVNC）和人类虚拟现实核心（HVRC）。这些核 将为基础科学家和进行研究的临床研究者提供服务 使用动物模型、正常人类受试者和 平衡障碍患者。两个研究核心的总体目标是 所要求的支持是促进合作研究活动， 在一组独立供资的 研究人员，他们每个人都研究平衡功能的某些方面， 功能障碍 动物前庭神经生理学核心（AVNC）将由两个独立的 能够提供精确的，计算机控制的，前庭 刺激清醒的哺乳动物，包括灵长类动物。这些 设施配备齐全，可产生自然前庭刺激， 记录各种反应，包括孤立的单个神经元的放电。 AVNC设施将支持协同和合作研究 现有的几个实验室的活动，其设备目前在 大量使用。这个核心将允许额外的新实验，超越 现有实验室的能力。 HVRC将包括一个基于投影的沉浸式环境， 控制整个视野，包括直立研究的地板 科目客观受试者监测能力包括基于视频眼动图的 双目位置，六自由度头部运动监测， 运动分析，测力板测量的地面反作用力，心率， 还有血压该核心将被广泛用于评估 视觉刺激对正常人受试者和患有 平衡失调该设施将促进以下各方之间的协作互动： 研究人员具有各种背景，包括生物工程，生物力学， 物理治疗、神经病学和精神病学。 两个拟议的研究核心将占用1110平方英尺， 眼耳所一楼耳鼻喉科研究中心。 核心赠款主任，副主任和研究核心主任将 提供核心资源的管理，以确保适当的数据 质量和资源配置。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Core Center Grant for Balance Research at the University of Pittsburgh consists of two Cores, an Animal Vestibular Neurophysiology Core (AVNC) and a Human Virtual Reality Core (HVRC). These Cores will serve both basic scientists and clinical investigators who perform research related to balance function using animal models, normal human subjects, and patients with balance disorders. The overall goal of the two research cores for which support is requested is to foster collaborative research activities in an efficient and cost-effective manner among a group of independently-funded investigators, each of whom studies some aspect of balance function or dysfunction. The Animal Vestibular Neurophysiology Core (AVNC) will consist of two separate facilities capable of delivering precise, computer-controlled, vestibular stimulation to awake behaving mammals including subhuman primates. These facilities are fully equipped for producing natural vestibular stimuli and recording various responses, including the firing of isolated single neurons. The AVNC facility will support the synergistic and collaborative research activities of several existing laboratories whose equipment is currently in heavy use. This Core will allow additional new experiments that go beyond the capabilities of the existing individual laboratories. The HVRC will consist of a projection-based immersive environment that allows control of the entire visual field, including the floor, of upright research subjects. Objective subject monitoring capabilities include video oculography-based binocular eye position, six degree-of-freedom head movement monitoring, motion analysis, ground reaction forces measured by a force plate, heart rate, and blood pressure. This Core will be used extensively to assess the influence of visual stimuli on upright balance in normal human subjects and patients with balance disorders. The facility will foster collaborative interactions among investigators with various backgrounds including bioengineering, biomechanics, physical therapy, neurology, and psychiatry. The two proposed research Cores will occupy 1110 square feet in the Otolaryngology Research Center on the first floor of the Eye and Ear Institute. The Core Grant Director, Associate Director, and Research Core Directors will provide management of the resources in the Cores to assure appropriate data quality and resource allocation.