Research Services Core

Project Summary – Research Services Core (Core B) The Research Services Core (Core B) will be an essential part of the Emory Udall Center. The Core will have three functions: (1) to prepare and process the brain tissue from experimental animals generated by the Center’s projects, (2) to treat Rhesus monkeys systemically with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and evaluate the resulting parkinsonism in a standardized manner, and (3) to provide biostatistical services and consultation for all projects in the Center. The Core will provide standardized histology services to researchers using animal models of parkinsonism (projects 1-3). These services will include the use of immunohistochemical and microscopy approaches to evaluate the degree of dopamine depletion in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or MPTP-treated animals (projects 1-3); histological reconstructions of recording electrode trajectories (projects 1 and 2); analysis of the degree and pattern of expression of transgenes (opsins, fluorescent proteins or voltage sensors) after virus injections (projects 1-3). These services will be indispensable to interpret the functional experiments and will help to compare and share the results among the projects. Similarly, all MPTP-treated parkinsonian monkeys that will be used in projects 2 and 3 will be treated and evaluated using standardized procedures by Core B personnel. This will help to integrate and compare data generated from these projects. Finally, the Core will provide the services of a biostatistician that will advise and provide feedback on statistical aspects of the projects. All four projects in the Udall Center will have access to these services, from the conception and design of the experiments to the statistical analysis of experimental data. By providing these services, the Core will help to free up time and resources from the research projects. In addition, center research will benefit from the use of standardized, well-establish anatomical and behavioral assessment techniques, and the biostatistical support will promote rigor and reproducibility in all projects.