Cellular Regeneration in Zebrafish: UMF & UMM 2023

Overview

Students in this hands-on research training course will learn about the zebrafish model system and its use in the basic and biomedical research field. Zebrafish has emerged has a valuable model organism to understand complex biological processes related to human health. In particular, zebrafish can regenerate cells and organs, including the brain. Understanding these regenerative mechanisms in fish could open new therapeutic strategies in humans. Short and comprehensive experiments will introduce students to concepts in genetics, molecular biology, and cellular regeneration using the zebrafish.  

Techniques, methods, and concepts: zebrafish husbandry, PCR & genotyping, microinjection, transgenesis and mutagenesis, histology, light and fluorescence microscopy. 

Faculty

About the Maine INBRE program

This short course is supported and organized by the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).

Maine is one of 23 states that have been identified by the National Institutes of Health as having historically received low levels of NIH funding. The INBRE program was established to strengthen research networks in each of these states, so that they could become more competitive for federal research grants. In Maine, our network is comprised of 14 institutions, with the MDI Biological Laboratory as the lead institution. Other institutions in our network include the following: Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, College of the Atlantic, the Honors College at the University of Maine, the Jackson Laboratory, Southern Maine Community College, the University of Maine, UMaine Farmington, UMaine Fort Kent, UMaine Machias, UMaine Presque Isle, and the University of New England.

Money from Maine INBRE supports research training experiences like this short course, as well biomedical research and laboratory facilities throughout our network. Other training experiences include academic year and summer student research. Please check with the INBRE contact at each institution for the most accurate information about opportunities on your campus. At UMaine Farmington, that contact is Jean Doty. At UMaine Machias, that contact is William Otto.

Funding

This research training opportunity is supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number P20GM103423.

The IDeA program builds research capacities in states that historically have had low levels of NIH funding by supporting basic, clinical and translational research; faculty development; and infrastructure improvements.