Designed especially for neurobiologists, FluoRender is an interactive tool for multi-channel fluorescence microscopy data visualization and analysis.
Deep brain stimulation
BrainStimulator is a set of networks that are used in SCIRun to perform simulations of brain stimulation such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and magnetic transcranial stimulation (TMS).
Developing software tools for science has always been a central vision of the SCI Institute.

Events on March 26, 2018

Saranne Mitchell Presents:

Quantitative Phase Microscopy an Emerging Technique to Evaluate Epithelial Extrusion

March 26, 2018 at 12:00pm for 30min
Evans Conference Room, WEB 3780
Warnock Engineering Building, 3rd floor.

Abstract:

Epithelial cells function as a barrier that is critical for maintaining organ function, and show some of the highest turnover rates in the body. Cells that are fated for removal from the epithelium are forced out through a mechanism known as cellular extrusion. The high turnover rate regulation depends on the number of extrusions and cell divisions matching precisely. The mismatch of these rates through increased cell extrusion is associated with a growing number of diseases, including cancer and asthma. Mechanical forces control cell death through a single stretch-activated ion channel, Piezo1. As the cell ages and/or experiences crowding Piezo1 continuously accumulates into plaques in the cytoplasm of epithelia, leading to extrusion and death. It is unknown how Piezo1 is sensing this mechanical force. Dry mass changes have been related to many cell states, functions, diseases and may be involved in extrusion. An emerging technique known as Quantitative Phase Microscopy (QPM) can evaluate the role of bio mass in epithelial cells and may predict cellular extrusion. Mathematically the relationship between mass and phase shift was introduced in the 1950's, however advancement in material fabrication and computer science stimulated the fast track of this technology. QPM acquires real time images of label free cells at nanoscale resolution, making it a unique and powerful imaging technique. Recently, spatial mass flux directly calculated from QPM images has been shown to correlate to cell stiffness. Although, QPM has only recently been used to quantify single and sparse cells, this technique offers a unique advantage to test in real time epithelial monolayer mechanics and extrusion.

Posted by: Nathan Galli