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

A tissue processor is an essential piece of equipment to support Dr. Kerr's research, currently funded by an NSERC Discovery grant, which examines the effects of neonatal care-giving environment on gene and protein expression within the context of normal and malignant mammary gland development.  In addition, to Dr. Kerr, several other Trent University faculty members (NSERC holders or NSERC applicants) rely on the reliable use of a tissue processor.  For example, Dr. Craig Brunetti's (co-applicant on this RTI-1) research focus involves the characterization of genes involved in viral pathogenesis, whereas Dr. C. Kapron's research examines protein and gene expression changes in cellular stress signalling pathways in developing mammalian embryos due to environmental toxin exposure.  An essential part of isolating possible factors that are involved in gene expression and which represent the complex interplay between the animal and its environment is immunohistochemical examination of organs or whole organisms. The ability to identify exactly where in an organ or animal protein expression is altered due to social, viral, or toxicological environmental exposures will help to explain, in combination with other forms of assessment, the effects of that particular environmental factor on animal health, pathology, as well as basic physiological functions.  Immunohistochemistry remains a fundamental technique that provides an important biological complement to current cutting-edge techniques including tissue micorarrays and functional genomics.  Without this infrastructure, which is currently not available at Trent University, Dr.s Kerr's and Brunetti's research programs are severely restricted in the types of developmental and in vivo questions that can be addressed.