In 1979, a NEI Core Grant was awarded to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Over the next 30 years, the institution's continued commitment to growth resulted in a remarkable expansion in vision research at UAB. Participants in the Core Grant have increased from thirteen in two departments to twenty-nine representing eight departments, and there has been a concomitant increase in extramural funding. Annually, NEI funding to Core Grant participants exceeds $3 million, not including institutional awards. Total extramural funding for vision-related research at UAB has grown from just over $6 million in 1998 to $15 million in 2008. A major research focus of the group is visual neuroscience, with seventeen of the participants actively involved in anatomical, biochemical, physiological, and psychophysical studies of the retina and central visual pathways. Other areas of research include myopia, biochemistry of the lens and cornea, and vitreous biochemistry. This application requests funds to continue to provide services and facilities to UAB Core Grant participants through the Electronics, Machine Shop, Computer and Molecular and Cellular Analysis modules. These modules provide easily accessible technical facilities and the expertise to use them in dedicated spaces designed specifically for each purpose. The Electronics Module is staffed by an Electronics Engineer and includes all of the equipment required to design and build new electronic apparatus, and to provide repair and maintenance services. The Computer Module provides access to high-end computers and peripherals, custom programming capability, and assistance with office and lab computers and software. A computer programmer is available for systems administration, and networking. The Machine Shop is fully equipped with a lathe, milling machine and other machine tools, and is staffed by a Tool and Die Maker who designs and fabricates new mechanical devices and can repair or maintain mechanical equipment. The Molecular and Cellular Analysis Core provides access to major instrumentation for DNA, RNA and protein studies. A PhD level Research Associate provides expertise and training in all of these areas. In addition, equipment and expertise for tissue analyses including routine tissue processing, histological stains, immunohistochemical studies, and in situ hybridization is available. A part time histological technician provides consultation for experimental design, technical expertise, and training of laboratory personnel.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
3P30EY003039-35S1
Application #
8899929
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEY1-VSN (08))
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
1997-08-01
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
35
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$257,002
Indirect Cost
$82,171
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Optometry/Ophthalmol
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Lu, Jing; Gu, Boyu; Wang, Xiaolin et al. (2018) High speed adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy with an anamorphic point spread function. Opt Express 26:14356-14374
Gawne, Timothy J; Ward, Alexander H; Norton, Thomas T (2018) Juvenile Tree Shrews Do Not Maintain Emmetropia in Narrow-band Blue Light. Optom Vis Sci 95:911-920
DeRamus, Marci L; Kraft, Timothy W (2018) Optimizing ERG Measures of Scotopic and Photopic Critical Flicker Frequency. Adv Exp Med Biol 1074:145-150
Ross, Lesley A; Webb, Christina E; Whitaker, Christine et al. (2018) The Effects of Useful Field of View Training on Brain Activity and Connectivity. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci :
Gu, Boyu; Wang, Xiaolin; Twa, Michael D et al. (2018) Noninvasive in vivo characterization of erythrocyte motion in human retinal capillaries using high-speed adaptive optics near-confocal imaging. Biomed Opt Express 9:3653-3677
Panthi, Shyam; Chen, Jianzhong; Wilson, Landon et al. (2018) Detection of Lipid Mediators of Inflammation in the Human Tear Film. Eye Contact Lens :
Strang, Christianne E; Ray, Mary Katherine; Boggiano, Mary M et al. (2018) Effects of tDCS-like electrical stimulation on retinal ganglion cells. Eye Brain 10:65-78
Markert, John E; Jasien, Jessica V; Turner, Daniel C et al. (2018) IOP, IOP Transient Impulse, Ocular Perfusion Pressure, and Mean Arterial Pressure Relationships in Nonhuman Primates Instrumented With Telemetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 59:4496-4505
Busettini, Claudio; Christy, Jennifer Braswell (2018) Parametric Covariability in the Standard Model of the Saccadic Main Sequence. Optom Vis Sci 95:986-1003
Levy, Alexander M; Fazio, Massimo A; Grytz, Rafael (2018) Experimental myopia increases and scleral crosslinking using genipin inhibits cyclic softening in the tree shrew sclera. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 38:246-256

Showing the most recent 10 out of 355 publications