Core Grant in Vision Research

PROJECT SUMMARY The Vanderbilt Vision Research Center (VVRC) promotes transformative vision research, spanning the eye and its diseases to visual cognition, memory, attention, and integration. We request continued support for 7 well-coordinated service modules coordinated through the administrative module to provide services and capabilities that otherwise would be unavailable due to expense or need for specialized equipment, technical infrastructure, or computational, informatic and data management resources. Animal Models, Histology and Pathology, Instrumentation, and Computation and Data Management represent cores intrinsic to VVRC facilities, while Sequencing and Informatics, Cell Imaging and Analysis, and Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics subsidize use of the world-class institutional cores for which Vanderbilt is known. Animal Models (1) provides essential services for use of nonhuman primates or other large mammals and supports animal imaging capabilities through the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science. Histology and Pathology (2) provides preparation, embedding, sectioning, and staining of all tissues derived from visual structures. Instrumentation (3) provides customized apparatus and expertise in digital interfaces for equipment. Computation and Data Management (4) provides server maintenance, programming for data analysis and machine interfacing, system administration, and webpage-based applications and platforms for data management. Sequencing and Informatics (5) subsidizes use of VANTAGE, or Vanderbilt Technologies for Advanced Genomics for high-throughput DNA and RNA services, bioinformatic support, data analysis, and biospecimen storage. Cell Imaging and Analysis (6) offers high-resolution confocal and laser-scanning microscopy, electron microscopy, and other imaging modalities with high-performance image processing and analysis through the Vanderbilt Cell Imaging Shared Resource (CISR). Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics (7) supports use of the Mass Spectrometry Research Center (MSRC), which provides high-throughput analysis of protein modifications, differential expression and spatial imaging, protein-protein interactions, and biomarkers of disease. Finally, the administrative module ensures coordinated and stable operation of the VVRC research and training missions. In the period since the beginning of the current grant cycle (7/2019 – 9/2023), our 52 members holding 18 active NEI R01 awards published 657 papers making made fundamental contributions to basic and clinical visual science, with 414 from 41 faculty utilizing at least one service module and 201 utilizing two or more. Each service module was utilized by no fewer than eight investigators, and 19 investigators utilized at least three modules. This Core grant has increased collaborations within and between basic and clinical vision researchers across the Vanderbilt campus and with other institutions. This Core grant has enhanced recruitment of world-class vision scientists who continue extensive NEI-sponsored research at Vanderbilt.