Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Cellular communication in the brain is carried out by electrical signals generated by neurons. To investigate how the nervous system functions, electrophysiology represents a widely-used neuroscience technique, as it provides the most sensitive and powerful measurements of extremely small current and voltage changes within neurons. Here, we are requesting a novel, state-of-the-art microelectrode array (MEA) system capable of simultaneous electrophysiological recordings from multiple sites and from multiple brain tissue samples. This will allow for the high-throughput investigation of how a population of brain cells functions in a network. This MEA approach will be complemented by the upgrade of an existing patch clamp recording setup that allows for the investigation of cellular and molecular mechanisms at the level of a single cell or ion channel. These upgrades will include optogenetics, a breakthrough technology that allows users to manipulate a specified cell-type within complex and heterogeneous brain tissue. Together, this infrastructure will represent the heart of a unique electrophysiology core facility at Memorial University. The applicants will use this technology to increase our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of brain function, including cell-cell communication, activity-dependent changes in the strength of cellular communication, the integration of newly-born neurons into functional circuits, and the regulation of mitochondria, the cell's main energy source. It is important to understand these fundamental mechanisms of brain function in the healthy brain, as their perturbations can interfere dramatically with our everyday lives, including homeostasis, cognitive function, mood, stress and anxiety, amongst others. The infrastructure is expected to help us make significant contributions to the field of neuroscience and enhance our general understanding of how the brain works, while providing a state-of-the-art training facility for high quality personnel. In all, our application represents a cost-effective solution for fulfilling the electrophysiology needs of five different NSERC-funded programs. The requested infrastructure is essential for our research programs to be internationally competitive; without it, it will be impossible not only to maintain and expand on electrophysiological capabilities for our research programs, but also to continue to be an essential resource for researchers and trainees in Newfoundland and Labrador.