Rodent Behavior Core

Abstract. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the US, and a significant health burden in West Virginia (WV). Furthermore, stroke survivors are often plagued by persistent fatigue and cognitive, affective and sensorimotor deficits, which substantially compromise quality of life. Rodent stroke models are crucial for understanding how the pathophysiology of stroke contributes to functional deficits and for determining whether novel treatments effectively preserve or restore post-stroke brain function. However, access to behavioral equipment and expertise are substantial barriers to entry into the foundational and translational stroke fields. For this reason, the Rodent Behavior Core (RBC), a shared instrumentation facility dedicated to the assessment of rodent behavior, is a vital component of the West Virginia University Stroke Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (Stroke CoBRE). The RBC is a pivotal resource that enables access to (1) an experienced leadership team of behavioral researchers who assist with behavioral experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation; (2) highly skilled rodent behaviorists with decades of experience in performing, analyzing, and teaching rodent functional behavior assessment; and (3) state-of-the-art instruments and equipment, located in newly renovated facilities designed and equipped to optimize rodent behavioral assessments. In Phases I and II, the RBC established and expanded basic resources and operational support, implemented new capabilities, facilities, and operational procedures, which established a productive core that supports rigorous behavioral assessments of stroke and other biomedical disorders. Among these expanded services we have added high-throughput, automated, and state-of the art behavioral assays, and are in the process of establishing a leading edge behavioral in vivo imaging and network analysis module embedded within the RBC that facilitates simultaneous assessment of neural network activity and behavior. In Phase III we will continue the mission of supporting basic, translational, and collaborative stroke research to enhance understanding of stroke and other neurological disorders and to elucidate the efficacy of novel therapeutic interventions (Aim 1). We will further bolster and broaden CoBRE support for our research community by integrating brain imaging and network analyses with robust behavioral assessments (Aim 2). To achieve long-term sustainability and maximize the positive impact of the RBC on foundational research, the core will also implement a user-fee, voucher program, and expand its user base to support investigators from other WV institutions (Aim 3). The Rodent Behavior Core’s long-term goal is to become a sustainable national resource for stroke researchers and others who seek rodent behavioral expertise or training for conducting innovative and timely stroke research that will improve the nation’s health.