Research in Electrophysiology, Calcium Imaging, and Other in Vivo Experiments

DATE: May 2019
University of Montreal | Neuroscience
Anthony Bosson, Postdoctoral Researcher

As a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratories of Pr. Richard Robitaille and Pr. Jean-Claude Lacaille, Hamilton products will be used for academic research in neuroscience. The main utilization will be to perform viral stereotaxic injections in mice. After injections mice will be used in electrophysiology, calcium imaging and in vivo experiments. I and other team members will also use Hamilton products to teach students and trainees.

In a research point of view, this grant will help me and other lab members on a daily basis. At least 4 members of Richard Robitaille and Jean-Claude Lacaille laboratories will use the syringes every week to perform viral injections. It is extremely important to us to rely on high quality syringes to ensure precise and optimal viruses injections. With Hamilton syringes we can easily monitor the volume delivered, prevent inflammation and provide fast and healthy recovery to animals after surgery. We will also train our students with these syringes. Based on the recognition of Richard Robitaille and Jean-Claude Lacaille, every year 5 to 10 students for each lab are hired for internships in addition to Ph.D students and postdocs (currently 6 postdocs and 2 Ph.D students). Syringes will potentially be used during future courses in neurosciences. We already use Hamilton products and are convinced that they are the best for our experiments but based on our extensive utilization we will be pleased to have the opportunity to renew our old syringes and try new products such as the repeating dispensers.

Richard Robitaille has led to seminal discoveries contributing to the discovery of the tripartite synapse. He is a world renowned scientist for his pioneering work on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the level of neuromuscular junction. His lab is also well known for its expertise in confocal microscopy and calcium imaging. He is co-founder of the international astrocyte school where 30 to 40 selected students from all over the world attend each year. Based on his high scientific qualities and expertise he is associate editor in the scientific journal Glia. Jean-Claude Lacaille is part of the Canadian research chair in cellular and molecular neurophysiology and has led to major discoveries in the study of synaptic plasticity. He has taken part in elucidating some of the major molecular pathways that underlies long term plasticity in the hippocampus. He is also renowned for his expertise on some diseases such as fragile X syndrome, autism and epilepsy. He also uses his scientific and academic qualities as associate editor for Frontiers in Synaptic neuroscience and Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. My current project in their team is a continuation of a recent published article in the high impact factor journal Nature Communication, in the continuation of the efforts led by their labs to understand how glia and neurons interacts in the complex brain functions. Based on the high requirement of the techniques we use, it is very important for us to have the best material available. This grant will help us a lot to achieve these goals. Overall, University of Montreal is a peculiar interface between Europe and North America that favors collaborations with other key investigator in neuroscience and a very attractive academic environment for students, coming from all over the world.

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