Grant: Research Tools and Instruments
University of Guelph
$150,000.00
Confocal imaging to support fundamental discovery in neuroscience
FY 2023-24
Summary
We are a diverse and collaborative team whose research programs aim to determine fundamental mechanisms underlying brain function. Our individual research programs investigate the neurobiology of cognitive functions, neuronal circuits, nociception, stress response, regeneration, and brain development. Our experimental approaches employ a wide array of techniques in small animal models (e.g., rat, mouse, lizard), incorporating genetic, cellular, and physiological tools to measure the function of neurons, circuits, and whole brains. Many of our experiments comprise endpoints centred on the in-situ visualization of fluorescent-labelled targets within histological brain sections. Example targets include endogenous proteins (labelled via immunofluorescence), virally transduced exogenous proteins (labelled with a fluorescent tag), and complete neuron structures (filled with a fluorescent marker during whole-cell electrophysiological recording). High quality and high resolution imaging of these fluorescent targets within brain sections requires advanced microscopy techniques like confocal imaging, which employs optical sectioning to filter out-of-focus light. In this application, we request the purchase of an Agilent BioTek Cytation C10 Confocal Imaging Reader, which is a cost-effective yet cutting-edge confocal microscope system. This spinning disk confocal microscope will allow for multichannel acquisition of single images or image stacks in brain sections. This system is modern and relatively easy to use, so our HQP may gain valuable hands-on experience generating images for their own research projects. The requested equipment will serve as an imaging workhorse for our laboratories and for those of other NSERC-funded colleagues across our two departments. Acquisition of the requested equipment will have a significant impact to promote new collaborations at our institution and beyond, and to enhance the capacity and quality of our research programs investigating fundamental mechanisms underlying brain function.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RTI-2024-00131
Name nom
Bailey, Craig
Department département
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Organization id
24
Institution établissement
University of Guelph
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2024
Award amount
150000
Program id
RTI
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche
Group en
DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Group fr
RECHERCHE AXÉE SUR LA DÉCOUVERTE
Committee code
1602
Committee name en
Biological Systems and Functions (RTI)
Committee name fr
Systèmes et fonctions biologiques (OIR)
Area of application code
1201
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Life sciences (including biotechnology)
Area of application fr
Sciences de la vie (y compris biotechnologie)
Research subject code
9999
Research subject group en
Not available
Research subject group fr
Not available
Research subject en
Non disponible
Research subject fr
Non disponible
Application title
Confocal imaging to support fundamental discovery in neuroscience
Keyword
astrocyte; fluorescence microscopy; learning; memory; neuron; neurophysiology; nociception; optical sectioning; stress; tissue regeneration
Application summary
We are a diverse and collaborative team whose research programs aim to determine fundamental mechanisms underlying brain function. Our individual research programs investigate the neurobiology of cognitive functions, neuronal circuits, nociception, stress response, regeneration, and brain development. Our experimental approaches employ a wide array of techniques in small animal models (e.g., rat, mouse, lizard), incorporating genetic, cellular, and physiological tools to measure the function of neurons, circuits, and whole brains. Many of our experiments comprise endpoints centred on the in-situ visualization of fluorescent-labelled targets within histological brain sections. Example targets include endogenous proteins (labelled via immunofluorescence), virally transduced exogenous proteins (labelled with a fluorescent tag), and complete neuron structures (filled with a fluorescent marker during whole-cell electrophysiological recording). High quality and high resolution imaging of these fluorescent targets within brain sections requires advanced microscopy techniques like confocal imaging, which employs optical sectioning to filter out-of-focus light. In this application, we request the purchase of an Agilent BioTek Cytation C10 Confocal Imaging Reader, which is a cost-effective yet cutting-edge confocal microscope system. This spinning disk confocal microscope will allow for multichannel acquisition of single images or image stacks in brain sections. This system is modern and relatively easy to use, so our HQP may gain valuable hands-on experience generating images for their own research projects. The requested equipment will serve as an imaging workhorse for our laboratories and for those of other NSERC-funded colleagues across our two departments. Acquisition of the requested equipment will have a significant impact to promote new collaborations at our institution and beyond, and to enhance the capacity and quality of our research programs investigating fundamental mechanisms underlying brain function.
