Core A. Structural and Functional Assessments (SFA)

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CORE A. STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS (SFA) abstract The Ohio State University Vision Sciences Research Core Program (OSU-VSRCP) has established scientific connections among the vision researchers across five academic units (i.e., College of Medicine (COM), College of Optometry (COO), College of Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences) and newly engaged Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Program Director (PD) Dr. Moroi has support and commitment from Deans and Chairs to purchase equipment (i.e., a new confocal microscope for Core A), support for data science needs, assigned space for three newly recruited faculty to Dept. Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS), new and existing programs to enhance collaborations among NEI-funded PIs, and facilitate gathering pilot data for future PIs. Core A is called the Structural and Functional Assessments (SFA) Core and was determined from a survey administered to 61 OSU vision scientists who are NEI-funded Users and eligible investigators as unfunded Users. The leadership of Core A is Director Dr. Fischer, who has two NEI R01 grants and is an experienced retina cell biologist, and Co-director Dr. Cebulla, who has her first NEI R01 grant and is an outstanding retina clinician scientist. Core A’s purpose is to provide technical expertise and state-of-the-art and properly maintained equipment for imaging and functional assessment of fixed and living cells and for animal models. The equipment includes: (a) wide-field epifluorescence microscope, (b) confocal microscopes, (c) OCT, (d) tonometry, (e) Topcon fundus photography, angiography, and operating microscope, (f) electrophysiology equipment, and (g) a Micron IV ImageGuided Laser System. Successful implementation of Core A SFA will be conducted in the following two aims: Aim 1. To provide training and access to structural imaging equipment and functional testing equipment. Aim 2. To provide consultation and assistance with experiments. Another major added value is the ability to provide machine shop services. PD Dr. Moroi has arranged an agreement with The OSU Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) to provide faculty with new technologies and manufactured products to enhance funded research projects. CDME Executive Director Mr. Nate Ames has provided a letter of support and has indicated that meeting the vision scientist User needs aligns with the mission for CDME. This proposed P30 Core A, SFA, intends to maximize efficiency, offer centralized access to equipment and expertise that would be difficult, costly or impractical to duplicate in individual labs, and use protocols to ensure best practices to perform science at the highest standard. Credit to Core A Director Fischer and Co-director Cebulla for setting the collaborative culture of equipment sharing to enable initiating OSU-VSRCP. The expected outcome is increased collaboration for successful new proposals with the shared overarching goal to prevent blindness, restore vision and develop cures for eye diseases.