The overall goal of the Bone OSP is to build a map of normal bone to help improve our knowledge of normal skeletal variability using an ultra-high content mass spectrometry (MS)-based imaging pipeline to characterize the molecular signatures (lipids, metabolites and proteins) of the bone matrix and the many cell types that reside in the bone and the bone marrow at high resolution. The imaging data acquired by this unique platform will be aligned with the 3D structure of human bones by co-registering MS data to microCT and immunohistochemistry of the specific sample which when possible will be aligned with anatomical information from imaging of the de-identified patient prior to surgery. This technological pipeline will be developed to be compatible with other molecular mapping technologies generated through HuBMAP, to create a multi-modal, 3D molecular atlas of the skeleton.
? Bone Organ Specific Project This application proposes the founding of the BIOmolecular Multimodal Imaging Center (BIOMIC) at Vanderbilt University, a Tissue Mapping Center associated with the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP). The mission of BIOMIC is to build a platform of integrated technologies for imaging and molecular analysis that enables the construction of comprehensive 3-dimensional molecular atlases of human tissues. The goal of the Bone Organ Specific Project is to elucidate the integration, interactions, and molecular cross-talk between the different tissue substructures and cellular compartments in normal bone tissue.
