Stanford Neuroscience Research Cores for Gene Vectors, Microscopy, and Behavior

该提案旨在建立必要的核心研究设施，以满足斯坦福大学神经科学研究界的以下共同需求：（1）基因载体和病毒生产，（2）先进的显微镜数据采集和分析，（3）自动化行为表型分析。病毒载体用于表达重组蛋白和/或敲低脑组织中特定细胞亚群中内源性蛋白的表达。甚至有可能表达能够精确控制单个神经元活动的蛋白质。这种病毒工具的使用正在彻底改变神经科学研究。一个集中的核心设施将大大提高病毒生产的效率和成本效益。 三维图像分析和可视化是必不可少的量化信息的体积成像技术，如阵列断层扫描，单光子和双光子共聚焦显微镜。用于这种类型分析的软件和硬件是昂贵的，并且具有陡峭的学习曲线。该提案将资助图像分析中心，这是一个具有技术专长的中央资源，可帮助科学家解决图像分析问题，并为现有的共享双光子组织切片装置提供电生理记录设置。 标准化的、可复制的行为测试对于将基础神经科学研究的进展转化为与人类疾病相关的治疗至关重要。自动化行为表型分析可以通过消除由于从饲养笼中取出和来自测试环境的新奇效应而引起的压力来提供更一致的结果。自动化测试还可以提高吞吐量并降低成本。该提案将提供资金，以扩大现有核心设施的自动行为测试能力。 这些核心设施将是SINTN努力的核心部分，以促进我们在分子，细胞和神经回路水平上对正常大脑和脊髓功能的理解，并阐明损伤或神经和精神疾病后神经系统功能障碍的病理过程。 创建核心服务以满足这些共享的研究需求，将通过最大限度地减少设备的不必要重复和为共享任务创建集中的专业知识来源来提高效率和生产力，从而在更短的时间内获得更好的解决方案。此外，由此产生的正式和非正式合作将为更丰富，更强大，更有活力的研究社区提供基础。

This proposal seeks to establish essential core research facilities to meet the following identified shared needs of the Stanford Neuroscience research community: (1) gene vector and virus production, (2) advanced microscopy data acquisition and analysis, and (3) automated behavioral phenotyping. Viral vectors are used to express recombinant proteins and/or knock down expression of endogenous proteins in specific subsets of cells in brain tissue. It is even possible to express proteins that enable precise temporal control over the activity of individual neurons. Use of such viral tools is revolutionizing neuroscience research. A centralized core facility will vastly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of virus production. Three dimensional image analysis and visualization are essential for quantifying information from volume imaging techniques, such as Array Tomography, and single- and two-photon confocal microscopy. Software and hardware for this type of analysis is expensive, and has a steep learning curve. This proposal will fund the Image Analysis Center, a central resource with technical expertise to assist scientists with image analysis problems, and an electrophysiological recording setup for an existing shared two-photon tissue slice rig. Standardized, replicable behavioral tests are critical to translating progress from basic neuroscience research to treatments relevant to human disease. Automated behavioral phenotyping can provide more consistent results by eliminating stress due to removal from the home cage and novelty effects from the test environment. Automated testing can also Improve throughput and reduce costs. This proposal will provide funds to expand capacity for automated behavioral testing in an existing core facility. These core facilities will be a central part of SINTN's effort to advance our understanding of normal brain and spinal cord function at the molecular, cellular, and neural circuit level, and to elucidate the pathological processes underlying malfunction of the nervous system following injury or neurologic and psychiatric diseases. Creating core services to meet these shared research needs will foster efficiency and productivity by minimizing the unnecessary duplication of equipment and creating a centralized source of expertise for shared tasks with the net effect of better solutions in less time. Moreover, the resulting formal and informal collaborations will provide the foundation for a richer, stronger, and more vibrant research community.