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FUN Equipment Loan Program (2012)

FUN is pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the 2012 Equipment Loan Program.  Through generous donations from ADInstruments, Kinder Scientific, Nikon Instruments Inc, Noldus Information Technology, and San Diego Instruments we are now accepting applications for proposals requesting a loan of equipment for research and/or teaching for FUN members.  A complete list of equipment available is available below.  Please note that only single versions of this equipment are available for loan at this time – it is not possible to request multiple pieces of a single item (unless otherwise noted).

All dues-paying members of FUN are eligible to apply for this program.  Applications will be submitted electronically.  Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2012 and awards will be announced in early November. 

 Terms of the Loan: 

  • Awardees will be given full use of the equipment granted for a period of 2 years.  For this cycle, all equipment can be requested for a two year loan period unless otherwise noted. 
  • Awardees will absorb all costs associated with shipping the equipment to and from the supplier.
  • Awardees will return the equipment at the end of the loan period clean, sanitized (if appropriate), and in good working order to the supplier.
  • Any publications or presentations resulting from the use of this equipment will acknowledge the company providing the equipment. 
  • Any software that is included with a grant will require that the grantee sign a provision that all software will be removed from their computers at the end of the grant period.

 Applications:

Applications should be no more than 5 pages in length (not including cover page).   Applications may be single spaced, with font size no less than 11, top and bottom margins of 1” and right/left margins of 0.75”.

  • Application Cover Page
  • Research proposal, including specific equipment requested, the proposed research, and expected outcomes
  • Impact of the loan on future research funding and long term development of the research program
  • Role of undergraduates in the research proposal
  • Institutional support for the proposal.  This may include such things as matching grants from the institution (i.e. undergraduate research stipends, additional supply money, salary support for the faculty member, etc.) or other forms of institutional support.

 Factors to be considered when reviewing the proposals will include:

  • The scientific merit of the proposed research and use of the equipment
  • Some preference is given to faculty in the early stages of their career, although awards may also be made to more senior faculty, for example, if a faculty member is developing a new area of research
  • Evidence that the loan will enhance the faculty members long-term research and/or teaching efforts
  • Demonstrated institutional support for the project. 

For more information contact:  Jeff Smith (jsmith12@svsu.edu) Office: 989.964.4503

ADInstruments Equipment
ADInstruments PowerLab system is a high speed multichannel computer-based data acquisition system appropriate for upper division undergraduate student neuroscience projects as well as research applications. PowerLab data acquisition potential applications include: extracellular/intracellular recordings, evoked potentials, current/voltage clamping, biopotential recordings and many other neuroscience protocols.

The Team at ADInstruments will work with the award winner to configure the system to best meet the needs of the work that is proposed. The final form of the system might vary, but in general would make use of the Powerlab 4/26T platform and LabChart software.

PowerLab 4/26T (QTY 1) - http://www.adinstruments.com/products/hardware/education/product/ML856/

The PowerLab 26T is an integrated data recording unit featuring a dual Bio Amp, an isolated stimulator, trigger input and two independent analog outputs (non-isolated). The ML856 provides the option of up to four general DIN inputs (Inputs 3 & 4 are shared between the dual Bio Amp). With appropriate transducers and accessories the PowerLab 26T covers the broad experimental requirements in neurobiology education.

The ML856 PowerLab 26T includes:

PTK 19 (QTY 1) - http://www.adinstruments.com/products/hardware/education/product/PTK19/

The PTK19 is ideal for conducting experiments using isolated animal nerve, skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle preparations. The Bridge Pod and transducer measure muscle contractile force. The cables connect to the Nerve Chamber or the Muscle Holder and plug directly into the analog inputs and analog outputs of the PowerLab system for recording and stimulating tissues.

The PTK 19 Nerve/Muscle Kit II Includes:

Complete software overview can be found here: http://www.adinstruments.com/solutions/research/Neurophysiology/.

The included LabChart software has integrated post-hoc data analysis modules including Peak Analysis http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/modules/Peak-Analysis/Windows/ and Spike Histogram http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/modules/Spike-Histogram/Windows/.

Although the acquisition software must be removed at the termination of the loan period, ADI does offer free downloads of the LabChart Reader software for review of previously collected data.
http://www.adinstruments.com/products/software/research/LabChart-Reader/

Awardees are responsible for shipping costs associated with returning the equipment to the supplier.  Equipment must be returned and insured (up to $5K) via a registered carrier and in good working condition. 

Kinder Scientific Equipment

Kinder Scientific is pleased to offer a wide variety of equipment including Startle Reflex, Plus Maze for mice, Plus Maze for rats, Radial Arm Maze, Avoidance Learning, Forced Swim for mice, Cage Rack with rearing option, Open Field with rearing option, Hole Board, Cue & Contextual Fear Conditioning, Tail Suspension for mice.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Kinder Scientific website and develop proposals for specific systems that would be useful to advancing/developing their research interest.

Additional product information available at:  http://www.kinderscientific.com/

Nikon Instruments Inc,

This is the first year for Nikon’s participation in our program. They have generously donated a Nikon Eclipse E400 microscope. http://www.nikoninstruments.com

This system will include:  6v 30 transmitted light illumination, 6 place nosepiece, right hand mechanical stage, 1.25na abbe condenser, CFI Plan Fluor 10x objective, CFI Plan Fluor 40x Dry objective and CFI Plan Fluor 100x oil immersion objective, trinocular viewing head with three way split;  100% eye/0% camera, 20% eye/80% camera, 0% eye/100% camera, (2) 10x eyepieces, c-mount camera adapter, epi-fluorescence illuminator with four position cube turret, 100watt mercury  lamp house, socket, power supply, collector lens and arc lamp, fluorescence filters; UV excitation for Dapi, Blue excitation for FITC or GFP and Green excitation for TRITC or DS Red.

Awardees will be responsible for any imaging hardware or software (though the microscope does come with a c-mount adaptor).  Awardees are also responsible for shipping costs associated with returning the equipment to the supplier.  Equipment must be returned and insured (up to $5K) via a registered carrier and in good working condition. 

Noldus Information Technology

Noldus will provide One copy of the EthoVision XT software for a 1 year loan period which includes:
•        EthoVision XT base software
•        picolo diligent digitizer board
•        Multiple Body Points module
•        Multiple Arenas module
•        Social Interaction module
•        Trial & Hardware Control Module
•        Physiology Integration Module

The only thing Noldus cannot provide is the CCD camera (that is necessary for obtaining video image for EthoVision XT – but Noldus can provide you with recommendations of cameras when the winner is chosen.

San Diego Instruments Equpiment

Three systems are being returned from loan and will be available for new proposals.  They are:

PAS Open Field with Rearing Frames (2 Stations) - PAS-Open Field stations use a 16 x 16 photobeam configuration that offers the option to utilize a rearing frame and/or floor pokes. To accommodate subjects of different sizes, you will be able to position frame height anywhere on the posts.

SR-LAB System with Large Enclosures (2 Stations) (Two of these systems will be available for loan by the end of 2012) - The SR-LAB startle response system is the world’s most widely used startle reflex behavioral research system and the most successful for measuring startle habituation, pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) and Fear Potentiated Startle (FPS).  Small/Medium enclosures can be substituted for Large Enclosure for testing mice.

Other Systems you may want to consider and can be made available for loan are:

Gemini Avoidance System – Passive and Active Avoidance and Learned Helplessness paradigms. Research drugs for cognitive enhancement.

Place Preference - Used for addiction studies.  Test stations can be either two compartment or three compartments.  Researcher must decide in advance which style is desired.

Rotor Rod – Motor skill measurement.  Can be configured for rats, mice or both.  The SDI Rotor Rod is very tall and the only motivator used is “fear of falling”.  Note:  Shipping costs are high for this unit due to its size.

In addition, our friends at SDI are willing to work with individuals to setup additional behavioral systems for our loan program. If they have a system that could help establish your research program, and it is not currently available in our loan program, please go ahead and submit a proposal for that particular system. SDI will try hard to accommodate your specific research needs.

Additional product information available at: http://www.sandiegoinstruments.com/

Awardees are responsible for costs of shipping to and from the supplier.  All equipment will be returned cleaned, sanitized and in a good working condition.

 

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Equipment Loan Application 2012.doc30.5 KB