Molecular Tools for Behavioural Neuroscience Research

行为神经科学研究的分子工具

• 批准号: RTI-2022-00216
• 负责人: McCormick, Cheryl
• 金额: $ 9.68万
• 依托单位: Brock University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=743044
• 关键词: Molecular; Tools; Behavioural; Neuroscience; Research

McCormick (hired July 2004), Duarte-Guterman (hired Jan 2021), and Raineki (hired Jan 2021) form the Behavioural Neuroscience Group in the Psychology Dept at Brock University. We are building a collaborative research environment based on our overlapping interest in investigating how life experiences shape neural and behavioural development. The long-term objective of McCormick's research program is to understand normative development in adolescence and the enduring consequences of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in adolescence for behaviour and physiological function in adulthood in both male and female rats. The long-term research objective of the Duarte-Guterman lab is to elucidate how neural circuits are remodelled in both sexes and with parental experience and its implications for behaviour across the lifespan in rats and degus. Raineki's research program uses a translational approach to investigate the role that the immune system plays in brain development and behavioural function later in life in rats and people. The funds requested through this NSERC RTI is for molecular equipment to support research in their laboratories. They require a real-time PCR (qPCR) machine to measure targeted gene expression and a gel documentation system to measure protein levels (Western blots). Increased demands on the equipment in the Biological Sciences Department necessitates that the Psychology Department have its own qPCR equipment. Further, McCormick's gel documentation system, equipment used extensively by all three PI's students, is no longer functional. Support equipment is required to determine quantity and quality of nucleic acids and proteins (nanodrop, Qubit, thermal cycler). Over the next five years, it is estimated that a minimum of 75 students will make use and rely on this equipment (each year 3-6 new graduate students and 9 - 12 undergraduate students) and will support NSERC-funded research in the Behavioural Neuroscience Group. All three PIs have a strong commitment to EDI and to the recruitment of under-represented groups to their laboratories. In addition to providing valuable training to students, the research will produce fundamental insights into the environmental factors that influence development and the means by which these effects are achieved.

McCormick（2004年7月聘任）、Duarte-Guterman（2021年1月聘任）和Raineki（2021年1月聘任）组成了布鲁克大学心理学系的行为神经科学小组。我们正在建立一个合作研究环境，基于我们对研究生活经历如何影响神经和行为发展的重叠兴趣。麦考密克研究项目的长期目标是了解青春期的规范性发展，以及青春期下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴（HPA）的激活对雄性和雌性大鼠成年后的行为和生理功能的持久影响。Duarte-Guterman实验室的长期研究目标是阐明神经回路是如何在两性和亲代经历中重塑的，以及它对大鼠和degus一生中行为的影响。Raineki的研究项目使用了一种转化的方法来研究免疫系统在老鼠和人类的大脑发育和行为功能中所起的作用。通过NSERC RTI请求的资金用于分子设备，以支持他们实验室的研究。他们需要一个实时PCR （qPCR）机器来测量目标基因的表达和一个凝胶记录系统来测量蛋白质水平（Western blots）。生物科学系对设备需求的增加，使得心理学系有了自己的qPCR设备。此外，麦考密克的凝胶记录系统，PI的三名学生广泛使用的设备，已经无法使用。需要支持设备来确定核酸和蛋白质的数量和质量（纳米滴，量子位，热循环器）。在接下来的五年里，估计至少有75名学生将使用和依赖这些设备（每年有3-6名新的研究生和9 - 12名本科生），并将支持nserc资助的行为神经科学小组的研究。所有三个pi都坚定地致力于电子数据交换和招募代表性不足的群体到他们的实验室工作。除了向学生提供有价值的培训外，这项研究还将对影响发展的环境因素和实现这些影响的手段产生根本性的见解。