Inactive

The research programs at the Synaptic Functions Section (SFS) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) focus on mechanisms regulating axonal transport, which are essentia... The research programs at the Synaptic Functions Section (SFS) of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) focus on mechanisms regulating axonal transport, which are essential to the maintenance of synaptic function and axonal homeostasis. The long-term goal of the STS Lab is to decipher mechanisms for (1) boosting axonal and synaptic energy metabolism and (2) enhancing autophagy-lysosomal function for efficient clearance of dysfunctional organelles and aggregated proteins that are associated with major neurodegenerative diseases. Research programs at the SFS aim to investigate axonal mitochondrial energy metabolism and lysosomal degradation capacity in neurons in health and neurodegenerative diseases. These programs and supporting research studies heavily rely on live neuron time-lapse imaging. Recent technological advancements in confocal microscope systems enable super-resolution imaging of subcellular and molecular structures (<100nm) and real-time quantitative measurements of dynamic cellular metabolism and function. In addition, these systems enable high-sensitivity and high-speed scanning capacity with reduced phototoxicity to specimens, thus enhancing spatial and temporal resolution. Pursuing these studies will advance the knowledge of fundamental processes that may affect human neurological disorders, and thus directly align with the mission and strategic plan of NINDS. Therefore, the SFS requires a Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) System: Leica STELLARIS 8 FALCON or equal. Please see the attached Sources Sought Notice for more details.