Assessment of Behavioral Deficits in Minipig Model of Pediatric Concussion

项目摘要/摘要 创伤性脑损伤(TBI)是全世界儿童和成人的主要健康问题。相似之处 猪与人脑之间的解剖、发育和神经炎性反应引起了人们的关注 将家猪作为研究机械刺激特定年龄反应的极具前景的模式动物 精神创伤。到目前为止，我已经量化了健康尤卡坦小型猪的基线行为数据。在此期间， 在训练期间，我将进行一系列的行为测试，以确定在 以儿童脑震荡为模型的闭头撞击手术后的幼猪。在 博士后阶段，我计划在开发新的神经干预策略方面发展专业知识 动物模型。为了便于过渡到实验室，我需要利用最先进的成像技术来 验证我的治疗效果，我将使用磁共振成像(MRI)作为评估工具 量化脑损伤猪神经结构和功能的变化。我将接受全面的培训 来自人类和猪神经放射学专家的核磁共振数据处理。拟议的培训计划是 专门为我，Alesa Netzley，为作为大型动物的充实和杰出的职业生涯做准备 系统和翻译神经学家。

Project Summary/Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading health concern for both children and adults worldwide. Similarities between pig and human brain anatomy, development, and neuroinflammatory response have brought attention to the domestic pig as a highly promising model animal for studying age-specific responses to mechanical trauma. To date, I have quantified baseline behavioral data in healthy Yucatan minipigs. For the duration of the training period, I will conduct a battery of behavioral tests to identify changes in behavior and physiology in juvenile pigs following a closed-head impact procedure designed to model pediatric concussion. In the postdoctoral phase, I plan to develop expertise in the development of novel neurointervention strategies in large animal models. To facilitate transition to a lab where I will need to utilize state-of-the-art imaging techniques to validate the efficacy of my treatments, I will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an assessment tool to quantify changes in neural structure and function in brain-injured pigs. I will receive comprehensive training in MRI data processing from experts in both human and pig neuroradiology. The proposed training plan is specifically crafted to prepare me, Alesa Netzley, for a fulfilling and distinguished career as a large animal systems and translational neuroscientist.