Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Accurately measuring metabolic and mitochondrial function is critical in understanding basic cellular, tissue, and whole body function. To fully understand metabolic and mitochondrial function it is crucial to perform analysis with high sensitive respirometry equipment. Currently, a high-resolution respirometer is not available at the University of Waterloo. Acquisition of a high resolution respirometer will allow researchers at the University of Waterloo to study mitochondrial and metabolic function in rodent and human organelles/cells/tissues. The respirometer will support the NSERC and other funded work of at least 9 independent researchers from 5 Departments (Kinesiology, Biology, Pharmacy, Public Health, Systems Design Engineering) and 3 Faculties (Applied Health Sciences, Science, and Engineering) at the University of Waterloo. In addition, this equipment will strengthen ongoing collaborations between these researchers, and help facilitate new collaborations between this group and other users across campus. The lack of an appropriate respirometer in these labs is a major constraint to fully and properly understanding cellular, metabolic, and mitochondrial function. The requested high-resolution respirometer will greatly improve upon the techniques currently employed in these laboratories. This respirometer can truly be viewed as a ""core instrument"" given it versatility in the measures it can perform (oxygen consumption, reactive oxygen species generation, ion levels, ATP production, membrane potential, etc.) as well as the range of basic research that it will support (skeletal muscle biology, cardiovascular physiology, neurology, immunology, mitochondrial biology, developmental biology, metabolism, diet/nutrition, exercise physiology, drug discovery, inflammation, materials biocompatibility). Acquiring this equipment will also facilitate training of undergraduate and graduate students in these laboratories, and provide these students with opportunities to improve and expedite their research projects. Overall, this capability will greatly enhance the quality and impact of research from these laboratories, and foster new collaborations within this group, across the University, and throughout Ontario.