Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
$150,000.00
Purchase of a small animal irradiator
FY 2014-15
Summary
Biological irradiators, using either X-ray or radioactive sources, are often used in cell biology to introduce DNA damage and to stop cell proliferation. In addition to the use of irradiation as a direct method to study the impact of DNA damage to cell growth and/or the mechanisms associated with DNA repair, irradiation has other, widespread, potential applications: 1) total body irradiation will wipe out the animal's immune system, which can then be replaced by cells of different genetic composition to study the mechanisms of blood cell development or of the immune response; 2) targeted irradiation can be used to sterilize mice to study infertility and the generation and production of sperm; 3) irradiation of bacterial pathogens can serve to determine roles of specific components, growth conditions, or regulatory pathways in stress resistance that could contribute to survival on foods and virulence; and 4) irradiation of cells in culture can be used to reduce the number of confounding variables from experimental systems including more than one cell type. In brief, access to irradiation sources is essential for a wide variety of research programs in natural sciences.We propose in the present application to replace an over 30-year-old beryllium X-ray tube that we have no technical or material support for by a stand-alone, closed chamber biological X-ray irradiator. The old X-ray is used on a regular basis by at least five laboratories, and it has presented some technical problems in the past six months. An eventual failure of the system would be disastrous for several research groups at the institute. An additional advantage of a self-shielded closed chamber irradiator when compared to the existing equipment is the improved safety of the users.In summary, the replacement of the biological irradiator at INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier is essential and urgent for the continuity of our research programs and for the recruitment of new high calibre scientists.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
472383-2015
Name nom
Heinonen, Krista
Department département
INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier
Organization id
56
Institution établissement
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
150000
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1501
Committee name en
Genes, Cells and Molecules
Committee name fr
Gènes, cellules et molécules
Area of application code
1200
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application fr
Avancement des connaissances
Research subject code
5100
Research subject group en
Cell biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie cellulaire
Research subject en
Cell biology
Research subject fr
Biologie cellulaire
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Purchase of a small animal irradiator
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Biological irradiators, using either X-ray or radioactive sources, are often used in cell biology to introduce DNA damage and to stop cell proliferation. In addition to the use of irradiation as a direct method to study the impact of DNA damage to cell growth and/or the mechanisms associated with DNA repair, irradiation has other, widespread, potential applications: 1) total body irradiation will wipe out the animal's immune system, which can then be replaced by cells of different genetic composition to study the mechanisms of blood cell development or of the immune response; 2) targeted irradiation can be used to sterilize mice to study infertility and the generation and production of sperm; 3) irradiation of bacterial pathogens can serve to determine roles of specific components, growth conditions, or regulatory pathways in stress resistance that could contribute to survival on foods and virulence; and 4) irradiation of cells in culture can be used to reduce the number of confounding variables from experimental systems including more than one cell type. In brief, access to irradiation sources is essential for a wide variety of research programs in natural sciences.We propose in the present application to replace an over 30-year-old beryllium X-ray tube that we have no technical or material support for by a stand-alone, closed chamber biological X-ray irradiator. The old X-ray is used on a regular basis by at least five laboratories, and it has presented some technical problems in the past six months. An eventual failure of the system would be disastrous for several research groups at the institute. An additional advantage of a self-shielded closed chamber irradiator when compared to the existing equipment is the improved safety of the users.In summary, the replacement of the biological irradiator at INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier is essential and urgent for the continuity of our research programs and for the recruitment of new high calibre scientists.
