P30 - Core Grant for Vision Research

 描述(申请人提供)：视力研究核心助学金的目标是为贝勒医学院(BCM)的视力研究和NEI资助的项目提供个人助学金所不能提供和无法获得的支持和设施。该中心还提供场地、支持人员和资本设备，以促进学院内最先进的视觉研究和视觉研究实验室之间的合作。BCM的视力研究核心目前有25名视力研究人员，他们携带17名符合条件的NEI R01，1名NEI P41，1名NEI PN2，1名NEI K08，1名NEI DP1，1名NEI R21，2名NEI T32，8名来自其他NIH研究所的NIH R01和2名国防部补助金，他们的研究领域涵盖了从角膜和晶状体到视网膜和中央视觉中心的整个视觉系统的结构、功能和发病机制。他们的研究领域包括生物化学、分子遗传学、电生理学、基因组/生物信息学分析、心理物理学、计算视觉神经科学和发育生物学。这些研究人员组成了一个充满活力和高度互动的视觉研究小组，在过去5年中发表了400多篇论文，其中259篇直接受益于在此赠款期间使用这一视觉核心。在这一竞争性的续订申请中，我们报告了我们过去对核心设施的高度成功和富有成效的使用，并寻求对四个资源/服务模块的持续支持：显微镜、数字成像和组织学模块、仪器模块、小动物视觉系统分析模块以及基因组和生物信息学模块。这些模块包含价值超过500万美元的设备，这些设备是用眼科和学院基金购买的(仅在2014年，就购买了超过120万美元的新设备，以更新和扩大核心的研究能力)。Vision Core的具体目标是：(1)提供三台扫描共聚焦显微镜和一台电子显微镜服务，用于用荧光染料标记的组织和细胞的高分辨率三维成像，以及眼睛和神经组织的超微结构分析，并为共聚焦显微镜和电子显微镜提供组织学设施、服务和培训。(2)向Vision Core调查员提供内部定制设计的机器、电子、光学和计算机服务，这些调查员需要商业上没有的特殊仪器。(3)提供结构、生理、生化和行为测试设施，如OCT、ERG、HPLC、质谱仪和OKR，以研究小鼠、大鼠和兔的视觉系统功能、功能障碍和结构/遗传缺陷。(4)利用BCM人类基因组测序中心的专业知识、技术和资源，为Vision Core实验室提供最先进的基因组技术和关键的生物信息学支持。(5)促进不同视觉研究之间的互动和合作，并为视觉研究教师和BCM招收和留住学生提供一个充满活力的研究环境。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the Core Grant for Vision Research is to provide support and facilities which are not available and cannot be obtained through individual grants exclusively for vision research and NEI-funded projects at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). The Core also provides space, support personnel and capital equipment to facilitate state-of-the-art vision research and collaborations among vision research laboratories in the College. The Vision Research Core at BCM currently has 25 vision research investigators, carrying 17 eligible NEI R01s, 1 NEI P41, 1 NEI PN2, 1 NEI K08, 1 NEI DP1, 1 NEI R21, 2 NEI T32s, 8 NIH R01s from other NIH institutes and 2 DOD grants, and their research areas cover the structure, function and pathogenesis of the entire visual system, from the cornea and lens to the retina and to the central visual centers. Their research disciplines include biochemistry, molecular genetics, electrophysiology, genomic/bioinformatic analysis, psychophysics, computational visual neuroscience and developmental biology. These investigators form a vibrant and highly interactive vision research group, and have published more than 400 papers in the past 5 years, and 259 of which have benefited directly from the usage of this Vision Core during this grant period. In this competing renewal application, we report our highly successful and productive past usage of the Core facilities, and seek continued support for four Resource/Service Modules: the Microscopy, Digital Imaging and Histology Module, the Instrumentation Module, the Small Animal Visual System Analysis Module and the Genomic and Bioinformatics Module. These modules contain equipment worth over $5M purchased with the Department of Ophthalmology and the College funds (in 2014 alone, over $1.2M new equipment was purchased to update and expand the Core's research capacities). The Specific Aims of the Vision Core are: (1) To provide three scanning confocal microscope and one electron microscope services for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of tissues and cells labeled with fluorescent dyes and for ultrastructural analysis of ocular and neural tissues, and to provide histological facilities, services and training for both confocal and electrn microscopy. (2) To provide in-house, custom-designed machine, electronic, optics and computer services to the Vision Core investigators who need special apparatuses that are not commercially available. (3) To provide access to structural, physiological, biochemical, and behavior testing facilities, such as OCT, ERG, HPLC, mass spectrometry and OKR, to study mouse, rat and rabbit visual system function, dysfunction, and structural/genetic defects. (4) To provide state-of-the-art genomic technologies and critical bioinformatics support to Vision Core labs by leveraging the expertise, technologies, and resources of the BCM Human Genome Sequencing Center. (5) To foster interactions and collaborations among various vision research and to provide a vibrant research environment for vision research faculty and student recruitment and retention at BCM.