The Iowa Center for Molecular Auditory Neuroscience

描述(由申请人提供)：拟议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率、创新能力和协作互动。该中心的研究人员来自五个临床和基础科学系：耳鼻喉科、生物学、生物化学、生理学、通讯科学和疾病科，拥有15个与听觉相关的R01，9个由NIDCD资助，一个P50，两个T32，以及其他赠款，本年度的总直接成本为900万美元。基础研究人员之间、临床研究人员之间存在着广泛的互动，并且相互作用架起了临床和基础研究之间的桥梁。这些核心旨在加强这些互动并开发新的互动。该中心由三个研究中心组成，将为对内耳的分子、细胞、发育和神经生物学至关重要的最先进的实验技术提供一流的设施；提供这些技术的培训；使研究人员了解有助于他们研究的替代实验方法和模型系统；促进新的合作，从而产生创新的方法来解决听觉研究中的问题，包括将基础研究数据转换到临床。研究核心是：(1)组织学和成像核心，为使用光学显微镜和EM分析模型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；共焦成像，包括活组织或固定组织的多光子成像；(2)基因组学核心，用于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；(3)组织/细胞培养核心，提供设施和培训，以准备体外耳蜗模型系统，包括感觉、神经和神经胶质细胞，器官型内耳培养，以及将基因转移到这些细胞的方法。单个实验可能使用多个核心，核心控制器之间将协调工作流。行政核心将管理中心的日常运作，协调核心主任的活动，并举办研讨会和研讨会，以促进中心调查人员之间的互动。

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.