Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are required for sperm production and male fertility. but we do not yet understand how activity of these cells is regulated or even precisely where they reside in the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Our previous single-cell RNA-seq results have defined transcriptome signatures of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) that discriminate these cells from all other spermatogenic cell types in the adult mammalian testis. We hypothesize that spatial genomic detection of this SSC signature in tissue sections will reveal the location of mammalian SSCs.

In light of the currently extant Covid pandemic. the impact of understanding upper airway health and being prepared for the rapid development of novel therapeutics has been reinforced. While preclinical animal models have long been the gold standard for the testing and development of novel therapeutics. they are expensive and time consuming. The availability of validated. reproducible and scalable in vitro diagnostics that reproduce relevant physiology and function as test-benches for the rapid testing and development of personalized medicine therapeutics is thus invaluable.

Basic Research

Major Goal: The goal of this grant application is to produce clinical grade human neural stem cells from embryonic stem cells and to demonstrate their long-term safety and efficacy in a rodent and a nonhuman primate model (marmoset) of acute focal traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Acquisition and deployment of the CrimeEye video surveillance system with Genetec video analytics that will allow our security team to maximize their efforts to keep our campus secure by having better situational awareness through enhanced monitoring, verification and validation of threats improving security response times.

This major goal of this funding is to outfit the Pathology Unit of SNPRC with a new chemistry analyzer, a new slide stainer and coverslipper, as well as seeks to purchase a state of the art whole slide scanner, which will provide a significant upgrade to research capabilities supported by Texas Biomed.

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Interrogation of basic biological phenomena in the post-genome era relies heavily on high-throughput. sensitive technologies that provide molecular profiles of cells and tissues. High-dimensionality molecular measurements (e.g.. levels of mRNAs for many/all genes) can be readily accomplished in bulk samples and down to the single-cell level. producing comprehensive (???omics) profiles for given samples that address research needs. However. such techniques necessarily ignore the tissue localization of gene products in order to produce the high-dimensionality data.

Core instrumentation for the Biology Core to expand the flow cytometry capabilities.

The purpose of this grant is for the purchase of a Confocal Microscope for Core Research Support project.