Multiplex immunoassay electrochemiluminescence system and touchscreen chambers for examining signally molecules related to cognition.

两个申请人的研究项目旨在探索神经炎症在高阶认知过程中的作用。Galea的研究项目研究雌激素如何影响认知过程。任何一个经历过青春期、怀孕或更年期的人都可以证明，这些激素会对身心产生强大的影响。Galea研究了雌激素对依赖于不同大脑区域的学习任务的影响，并确定了暴露于雌激素时发生的大脑变化类型。雌激素调节女性的学习和大脑可塑性，这取决于大脑区域。在短期内，Galea希望通过检查雌激素对脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）和炎症标志物等特定分子的调节来评估雌激素调节记忆和大脑的机制。雌激素可以抗炎，我们可以通过量化称为细胞因子的免疫副产物的类型和相对数量来测量炎症。Winstanley的研究项目旨在了解复杂认知过程的潜在机制，例如决策和冲动控制的调节。他们开发了一种新的决策模式，需要在两个选项之间做出选择，这两个选项在获得成功所需的努力程度上有所不同。Winstanley最近发现了细胞因子在大脑特定区域（前额叶皮层）中的一种新作用，它调节冲动。现在，他们想研究不同药物对改变认知努力和细胞因子的影响。然而，为了精确定量这些分子，我们需要专门的设备，这对我们来说并不容易获得，称为多重阅读器。为了推进该项目，我们需要在UBC不可用（触摸屏室）或有限可用（用于细胞因子和其他蛋白质测量的多路读取器）的设备。这两个程序都需要触摸屏，以使我们能够在临床前模型中进行复杂的触摸屏认知训练。这些设备的购买将使我们的NSERC学员不仅精通使用最先进的触摸屏系统进行认知测试的几个范例，而且还精通用于精确定量细胞因子和其他蛋白质的多路读取器。该设备将对两个NSERC相关研究项目至关重要，这两个项目都旨在确定神经炎症是否有助于认知功能。

The research programs of both applicants aim to explore the role of neuroinflammation in higher-order cognitive processes. Galea’s research program studies how estrogens influence cognitive processes. As anyone how has gone through puberty, pregnancy or menopause can attest, these hormones can exert powerful effects on the mind and body. Galea investigates the effects of estrogens on learning tasks that rely on different brain regions and also identifies what types of brain changes occur with exposure to estrogens. Estrogens modulate learning and brain plasticity in the female, depending on the brain regions. In the short-term, Galea wants to evaluate the mechanisms by which estrogens modulate memory and the brain by examining estrogens modulation of specific molecules such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inflammatory markers. Estrogens can be anti-inflammatory and we can measure inflammation by quantifying the types and relative amounts of immune by-products called cytokines. Winstanley’s research program aims to understand the mechanisms underlying complex cognitive processes, such as decision making and the regulation of impulse control. They have developed a novel decision-making paradigm which requires a choice between two options that differ in the degree of effort required to attain success. Winstanley has recently identified a novel role for cytokines within a specific region of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, in mediating impulsivity. Now they want to examine the influence of different drugs to modify both cognitive effort and cytokines. However to get precise quantification of these molecules we need specialised equipment that is not readily available to us called a multiplex reader. To progress with this program, we need equipment that is either not available (touchscreen chambers) or is in limited availability (multiplex reader) for cytokine and other protein measurement) at UBC. Touch screens are needed as both programs to allow us to tap into sophisticated touch screen cognitive training in preclinical models. These equipment purchases will allow our NSERC trainees to be well versed not only in several paradigms using state-of-art touchscreen system for cognitive testing but also a multiplex reader for precise quantitation of cytokines, and other proteins. This equipment will be vital to two NSERC-related research programs, both of which aim to establish whether neuroinflammation contributes to cognitive function.