Proposals

Abstract

In this proposal we are requesting the purchase of three pieces of histology equipment for processing and sectioning tissues. This equipment would significantly expand the capabilities of the Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (ISCRM) at the South Lake Union (SLU) School of Medicine campus and thus, provide students a significant advantage in their research projects. After in-vivo and in-vitro studies, histological analysis (acquiring tissue sections and further staining) allows researchers to evaluate the impacts of perturbagens/treatments morphologically. This type of analysis is an indispensable part of research that provides invaluable data to a wide breadth of fields including, cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, lung disease, retinopathies and more. Histological analysis allows researchers to examine changes in overall cell and tissue morphology, proliferation, tumor characterization, and even parasite burden. Being able to view that tissue in a microscopic level has important applications in human medicine, and in science overall.Typically, studying human disorders in an animal model (e.g. heart disease), use human or animal tissue that undergo manipulation (e.g. disease, injury, genetic manipulation or drug intervention) require histological analysis, making this equipment very important in producing publication-quality data. One of the first steps of histological analysis is to acquire tissue which can be processed and prepped for tissue sectioning, through paraffin processing or cryopreservation. The equipment being requested in this proposal is essential to process and prepare tissue sections. The three essential pieces of equipment consist of; a tissue processor, a microtome (a miniature deli slicer), and a cryostat (a frozen version of a microtome) which allows for tissue to be preserved, processed, and cut as thin as 1 micron and up to 50 microns without tissue degradation. ISCRM currently has 57 principal investigators with their own laboratories at South Lake Union with more than 350 undergraduate and graduate students. Here at ISCRM, students have access to state-of-the-art instruments that are common in research and industry settings, and we have several core facilities such as the ISCRM Aquatics Core, Garvey Imaging Core, Quellos High Throughput Screening Core, and the Ellison Stem Cell Core providing the students working here with a strong repertoire of instruments to gain experience on, and a strong user base providing our expertise in developing conclusive research strategies. As a result, more than 100 research articles have been published in scientific journals with many more presentations at conferences which helped to expose our students to the research community. In addition to SLU, most laboratories on main campus also employ the use of histology sectioning in their research. Therefore, we will make the equipment available to students in these labs and offer access to state-of-the-art tissue analysis methods through ISCRM. Therefore, we would like to purchase one Leica CM1950 cryostat, one Leica HistoCore AUTOCUT microtome, and one Leica ASP6025 automated tissue processor. These purchases will significantly improve the students’ ability to resolve tissue changes in biological systems such as zebrafish, mice, rats, rabbits, non-human primates, pigs, human tissue samples. Jeanot Muster, the director of the ISCRM Aquatics core, is well versed in the use and capabilities of this equipment and will help students use this equipment for their studies.