Core Center for Balance and Hearing Research

描述(由申请人提供)：匹兹堡大学平衡研究核心中心助学金的竞争性延续将包括一个单一的核心，一个计算核心。计算和听力核心将服务于基础科学家和临床研究人员，他们使用动物模型进行与平衡和听力、正常人平衡和平衡障碍患者相关的研究。计算核心的总体目标是为在NIDCD任务区独立资助的一群科学家提供高效和成本效益高的计算支持。核心中心旨在促进合作研究活动，以及提高研究生产率。 计算核心将支持多个实验室和共享设施的活动，主要是通过一名在实时计算和科学数据分析方面的专家的科学程序员的活动。由科学方案人员提供支助的实验室和设施均在NIDCD任务区进行动物模型或人体研究。将开发和维护用于传递感觉刺激、记录生理反应和处理数据的软件。利用计算核心服务的动物研究活动将在几个设施中进行，这些设施能够在哺乳动物模型中提供精确的、计算机控制的生理刺激和记录。 将由计算核心提供服务的研究人类受试者的实验室包括：1)虚拟环境实验室，由基于投影的沉浸式环境组成，当受试者站在固定或移动的表面时，允许控制整个视野；2)人类前庭实验室，由旋转设备和计算机化姿势描记术组成；以及3)前庭心理生理学实验室。预计计算核心将促进更多的新实验，这些实验超出了现有个别实验室的能力。 计算机核心将促进具有不同背景的研究人员之间的协作互动，包括生物工程和神经学。计算核心将主要占据一个100平方英尺的办公室，位于科学程序员眼耳研究所的耳鼻喉科研究中心。核心赠款主任将管理核心的资源，以确保适当的资源分配。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This competing continuation of the Core Center Grant for Balance Research at the University of Pittsburgh will consist of a single core, a Computing Core. The Computing and Hearing Core will serve both basic scientists and clinical investigators who perform research related to balance and hearing using animal models, balance in normal human subjects, and patients with balance disorders. The overall goal of the Computing Core is to provide efficient and cost effective computing support to a group of scientists who are independently funded in NIDCD mission areas. The Core Center aims to foster collaborative research activities, as well as improving research productivity. The Computing Core will support activities in multiple laboratories and shared facilities, primarily via the activities of a scientific programmer who is an expert in real-time computing and scientific data analysis. The laboratories and facilities to be supported by the scientific programmer each perform research in an NIDCD mission area on either animal models or human subjects. Software will be developed and maintained for delivering sensory stimuli, recording physiologic responses, and processing data. Animal research activities that will make use of the services of the Computing Core will be performed in several facilities capable of delivering precise, computer-controlled physiologic stimulation and recording in the mammalian models. The laboratories that study human subjects that will be serviced by the Computing Core include: 1) a Virtual Environment Laboratory that consists of a projection-based immersive environment allowing control of the entire visual field while subjects stand on a fixed or moving surface, 2) a Human Vestibular Laboratory consisting of rotational devices and computerized posturography, and 3) a Vestibular Psychophysiology Laboratory. The Computing Core is expected to facilitate additional new experiments that go beyond the capabilities of the existing individual laboratories. The Computer Core will foster collaborative interactions among investigators with various backgrounds including bioengineering, and neurology. The Computing Core will occupy primarily a 100 square foot office in the Otolaryngology Research Center in the Eye & Ear Institute for the Scientific Programmer. The Core Grant Director will manage the resources of the Core to assure appropriate resource allocation.