The Iowa Center for Molecular Auditory Neuroscience

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议中的分子听觉神经科学中心将提高爱荷华大学听觉研究人员的生产力，创新和协作互动。中心的研究人员是耳鼻喉科、生物学、生物化学、生理学和通信科学与疾病五个临床和基础科学部门的成员，有15个与听觉相关的研究项目，其中9个由NIDCD资助，1个P50, 2个t32和其他资助，本年度总直接成本为100万美元。基础研究人员之间、临床研究人员之间以及临床和基础研究之间存在着广泛的互动。核心旨在加强这些互动并发展新的互动。该中心由三个研究核心组成，将为内耳的分子、细胞、发育和神经生物学提供最先进的实验技术；提供这些技术方面的培训；使研究人员了解有助于其研究的其他实验方法和模型系统；促进新的合作，以创新的方法解决听觉研究中的问题，包括将基础研究数据转化为临床。研究核心是：(1)组织学和成像核心，为使用光学显微镜和EM分析模式生物提供设施和培训：组织学，包括切片，染色，免疫荧光，EM和使用荧光染料标记神经纤维；活组织或固定组织的共聚焦成像，包括多光子成像；(2)基因组学是常规分子生物学技术——测序、核苷酸合成、核酸定量和质量——以及基因表达分析的核心；(3)组织/细胞培养中心，为体外耳蜗模型系统的制备提供设施和培训，包括感觉细胞、神经细胞和胶质细胞，器官型内耳培养，以及基因转移到这些细胞中的手段。个别实验可能使用多个核心，工作流程将在核心主管之间协调。行政核心将管理中心的日常运作，协调核心主任的活动，并举办专题讨论会和研讨会，以促进中心调查员之间的互动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed Center for Molecular Auditory Neuroscience will enhance productivity, innovation, and collaborative interactions of auditory researchers at the University of Iowa. Center investigators are members of five clinical and basic science departments: Otolaryngology, Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Communication Sciences and Disorders, with 15 auditory-related R01s, nine funded by NIDCD, a P50, two T32s, and other grants, for a total current year direct cost >$9M. There are extensive interactions among basic researchers, among clinical researchers, and interactions bridging clinical and basic research. The cores aim to strengthen these interactions and develop new ones. The Center consists of three research cores and will provide first-rate facilities for state-of-the-art experimental techniques crucial to molecular, cell, developmental and neurobiology of the inner ear; provide training in these techniques; make investigators aware of alternative experimental approaches and model systems that will facilitate their research; foster new collaborations that result in innovative approaches to problems in auditory research, including translation of basic research data to the clinic. The research cores are: (1) Histology and Imaging core to provide facilities and training for analysis of model organisms using light microscopy and EM: histology, including sectioning, staining, immunofluorescence, EM, and use of fluorescent dyes to label nerve fibers; confocal imaging, including multiphoton, of live or fixed tissue; (2) Genomics core for routine molecular biology techniques - sequencing, nucleotide synthesis, nucleic acid quantitation and quality - as well as analysis of gene expression; (3) Tissue/Cell Culture Core to provide facilities and training for preparation of in vitro cochlear model systems including sensory, neural and glial cells, organotypic inner ear cultures, and means for gene transfer into these cells. Individual experiments may use multiple cores and workflow will be coordinated among Core directors. The Administrative Core will manage day-to-day operation of the Center, coordinate activities of Core directors, and conduct symposia and seminars to facilitate interaction among the Center investigators.