Proposal
Name:
Acquisition of optogenetics equipment for the Genetics Lab
FiscalYear:
2017
Audience:
Science, College of
Submitter:
Jia, Kailiang
Budget Manager:
Blanchard, Dominique
Project Manager:
Jia, Kailiang
Proposal Approvers
Dept. Chair:
Murphey, Rodney K.
Local IT:
N/A
Dean:
Sarajedini, Ata
Facilities:
N/A
OIT:
Bagdonas, Joseph A.
Proposal Funding
Year 1:
$ 0.00
Year 2:
$ 0.00
Year 3:
$ 0.00
Total:
$ 0.00
Proposal Funding versus Average
Questionnaire
Narrative
This tech fee proposal seeks to purchase optogenetics equipment for the Genetics Lab to support learning and research in neuroscience. The Genetics Lab is offered twice a year and open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students. In this course, students gain significant experience in classical and molecular genetics using two powerful model systems, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. To expose students to cutting-edge neuroscience techniques, we propose to introduce optogenetics experiments in the Genetics Lab.
Optogenetics is a revolutionary biological technique used to control activities of individual neurons in living animals. It involves the use of a special blue light to control activity of neurons that are genetically modified to express light-responsive proteins. Optogenetics has significantly advanced the understanding of the structure and function of neural networks. Moreover, optogenetics-driven research has led to insights into neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Schizophrenia.
C. elegans has become a powerful model organism for optogenetics investigations of synaptic function, circuit dynamics and the neuronal basis of behavior. Since summer 2016, neuroscience behavioral experiments have been included in the syllabus of the Genetics Lab. Students were fascinated to learn fundamentals of behavioral neuroscience using C. elegans. Introduction of optogenetics to the Genetics Lab will not only enable students to learn optogenetics techniques but also to study how to precisely measure the influence of a single neuron on animal behavior in real-time.
Neuroscience is a research pillar of FAU’s 2015-2025 strategic plan. The acquisition of optogenetics equipment will provide new learning and research opportunities in neuroscience for undergraduate and graduate students. The Genetics Lab registers thirty-six students each academic year. Therefore, it is expected that hundreds of students will gain first-hand experience with optogenetics techniques in the following years. Moreover, local high school students will also have a chance to learn optogenetics techniques. For example, the Genetics Lab hosted a visit of seven FAU High School students last year. In 2017, twenty-five students from Inlet Grove High School had a field trip to the Genetics Lab. Additionally, there are dozens of neuroscience research labs from the College of Science and College of Medicine on Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses. The availability of optogenetics equipment will facilitate the research of DIS undergraduate and graduate students in these labs.
Hardware Requirements
Prizmatix UHP-T Blue LED System at 455nm (UHP-T-455-DI): $3,825.00
Microscope adaptor: $85
C-mount adaptor: $85
Liquid light guide 3mm (LLG-3): $400
Liquid light guide adaptor 3mm (LLG-A3): $260
Liquid light guide XYZ collimator XYZ adjustable 3mm (LLG-CM3): $535
Shipping cost: $125
Total cost: $5,315
Software Requirements
none
Timeline
The optogenetics experiments will run with the teaching of Genetics Lab, which is expected to last many years.
Sustainability
The optogenetics equipment will not require maintenance and should be functional for many years. In the event of a repair, the cost will be covered from the lab fees for teaching purposes.
Implementing Organization
The Genetics Lab will implement the optogenetics experiments. The PI is the instructor of Genetic Lab and he will perform on-site training for students to use the equipment in the class. The PI will also coordinate the usage of the optogenetics equipment for DIS undergraduate and graduate students from neuroscience research labs at FAU. The PI is in the department of biological sciences.
Proposal Budget
|
Fiscal Year 1 |
Fiscal Year 2 |
Fiscal Year 3 |
Total |
Hardware One-Time |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Hardware Recurring |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Software One-time |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Software Recurring |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Personnel One-time |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Personnel Recurring |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Other One-time |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Other Recurring |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Totals |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
$ 0.00 |
Supporting Documentation