To build multi-dimensional atlases of developing urogenital organs that incorporate the latest multi-omics and spatial molecular mapping technologies, we have assembled a team with expertise both in urogenital development and multi-dimensional, multi-platform, molecular atlas building.
Our ability to leverage recent advances in omics and molecular imaging technologies enables us to investigate the transcriptional changes and secretory features driving and/or associated with senescence at higher depths and resolution than ever before.
Six investigators from the Departments of Genetics and Neuroscience at the School of Medicine will make use of this imaging platform to enable a wide-range of studies aimed at investigating the genetic regulation of synapse-localized translation, the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation as well as the discovery and characterization of genetic etiological factors involved in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), how mGluR5 mediated signal transduction is implicated in anxiety and depression and how loss of hippocampal activity leads to learning and memory deficits in cognitive disease.
We propose a cross-disciplinary approach to quantitatively characterize the native three-dimensional architecture of human solid tumor tissue from triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients using a combination of the state-of-the art, yet mature technologies of tissue clearing, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization labeling, and high-resolution lightsheet fluorescence microscopy.
The overall research goal of the Center is to build a robust data handling pipeline for the big data inherent in light sheet microscopy. We aim to achieve this goal in concert with our second goal of proactively fostering the careers of junior faculty, postdoctoral trainees, and students.
Dr. Fitzpatrick will work to innovate novel approaches and resources for training and educating users and will facilitate outreach efforts in order to train the next generation of imaging scientists.
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center (SCC) at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center whose mission is to prevent cancer in the community and transform cancer patient care through scientific discovery.
This program project will discover and test novel compounds as potential therapeutic agents, as well as test and discover signaling pathways as potential modifiers, of liver disease due to α1antitrypsin deficiency (ATD), one of the most common genetic causes of liver disease and a frequent indication for liver transplantation.
Recent advances in cellular imaging technology enable unprecedented dynamic and spatial resolution in studies of cells, tissues, and animals, creating exciting opportunities for discovery in basic and translational studies of pediatric diseases.
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is an essential anticoagulant protein.
In this project, we will use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine atomic resolution structures of Asyn fibrils in Lewy body dementia, in conjunction with solid-state NMR (SSNMR) for refinement of structures.
This microscope system will allow innovative nanomanipulation of vitrified cells and tissues into thin lamellae (~300 nm thickness) for Cryo-Electron Tomography (Cryo-ET), and will facilitate the in situ elucidation of three-dimensional structures of cellular organelles and macromolecular complexes at nanometer resolution.