Pre-Clinical Core

PROJECT SUMMARY The main objective of the CBRR Preclinical Core during Phase 3 is to develop strategies for sustained growth in multidisciplinary preclinical research focused on brain recovery and repair, with an emphasis on sustainability beyond CoBRE funding. In Phases 1 and 2, the Preclinical Core established itself as a vital resource for basic and translational brain injury research by investing in unique technologies and equipment unavailable in other UNM facilities or individual labs. The Core provides advanced facilities that integrate in vivo electrophysiology and behavioral studies with detailed anatomical research centered on recovery from acquired brain injuries. The preclinical technologies are aligned with Clinical Core's focus on brain stimulation, recording, and imaging for brain injury studies, all housed within a central location within Domenici Hall on the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center Campus. The Preclinical Core has provided expert training and education for Center investigators, assisted in recruiting new faculty, supported the establishment of new research programs, and fostered collaborations across multiple departments, which has resulted in a growth trajectory that far exceeded the original goals for Phases 1 and 2. The collaboration between the Preclinical and Clinical Cores has also resulted in numerous successful translational grant projects among Center investigators and dynamic exchange of creative ideas, which would not have been possible without the integration of resources and expertise in one central location. In Phase 2, construction of a new wing to Domenici Hall allowed for further expansion of the facility, providing much needed additional space for behavioral testing and a new imaging suite for neuroanatomical assessments, contiguous with the Core’s previously renovated optical imaging, histology and neurophysiology core laboratories. In Phase 3, the Core will build on its successes by further expansion in the number of investigators working on acquired brain injury and supporting the career development of researchers from various programs on campus. The Preclinical Core will help to administer the Pilot Project Program to enhance extramural funding opportunities and implement strategies to improve financial sustainability. In Phase 3, the Core will continue to promote training, education, and grant success through interdisciplinary seminars, technology training events, and biannual mock study section reviews. Additionally, the Preclinical Core plans to invest in new instrumentation to support ongoing growth and strengthen the revenue model for cost recovery, with increased institutional backing for long-term sustainability. Together, these approaches will further establish the institutional reputation of the facility, ensure long-term sustainability and contribute to the field of brain injury research.