Molecular Tools for Behavioural Neuroscience Research

McCormick（2004年7月受聘）、Duarte-Guterman（2021年1月受聘）和Raineki（2021年1月受聘）组成了布罗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的基础上，我们在调查生活经验如何塑造神经和行为发展的重叠兴趣。McCormick研究计划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（HPA）轴激活对雄性和雌性大鼠成年后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如何在两性和父母的经验中重塑，以及其对大鼠和degus整个生命周期行为的影响。Raineki的研究项目使用转化方法来研究免疫系统在大鼠和人类后期大脑发育和行为功能中的作用。通过NSERC RTI申请的资金用于分子设备，以支持其实验室的研究。它们需要实时PCR（qPCR）机器来测量靶基因表达，并需要凝胶记录系统来测量蛋白质水平（Western印迹）。对生物科学系设备需求的增加需要心理学系拥有自己的qPCR设备。此外，麦考密克的凝胶文件系统，设备广泛使用的所有三个PI的学生，不再起作用。需要支持设备来确定核酸和蛋白质的数量和质量（nanodrop、Qubit、热循环仪）。在接下来的五年里，估计至少有75名学生将使用和依赖这种设备（每年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组的研究。所有三个PI都坚定地致力于EDI和招募代表性不足的群体到他们的实验室。除了为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以及实现这些影响的手段产生根本性的见解。

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.