2004 Directors' Summary Synopsis

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

At the beginning of this year, The Miami Project upgraded its facilities with some very valuable laboratory equipment that will help accelerate the analysis of the vast numbers of molecules that could be key to axon regrowth. To understand the interactions of just one molecule, researchers invest countless hours using specialized scientific techniques. The KineticScan Reader, a new generation of sophisticated equipment, automatically takes pictures from 96 different tissue culture wells in a short amount of time. The equipment also utilizes software that analyzes all the images collected. Currently, the KineticScan Reader is being used to evaluate how 2000 different compounds in different concentrations influence nerve growth. Because this new technology is available, researchers will now more rapidly be able to analyze and pick out compounds that could potentially play a role in nerve growth and guidance.

The Miami Project also maintains core facilities for image analysis, electron microscopy, histology, experimental surgery, behavioral testing and clinical trials. The purpose of a core facility is to centralize commonly used tools and equipment for specific purposes. For example, the image analysis core houses various types of microscopes and image analysis software for use by all laboratories at The Miami Project.

The new Viral Vector Core Facility was established to provide viral vectors to Miami Project scientists. A viral vector is a genetically modified virus that is engineered to carry therapeutic genes to cells. Viral vectors have been used in regeneration research to deliver growth promoting substances into the spinal cord. Miami Project researchers believe these are important tools that will help increase our understanding of spinal cord injury and repair. The new viral vector core, under the supervision of Drs. Bas Blits and Martin Oudega, will develop and supply new viral vectors for use in gene therapy experiments conducted at The Miami Project. Vectors generated in the core have already been provided for basic science experiments in the laboratories of Drs. John Bethea, Mary Bartlett Bunge, and Martin Oudega.