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Teresa Ann Murray, PhD
Director, Principal Investigator
Integrated Neuroscience and Imaging Lab
Principal Investigator, FUTURE Sensors Project

My lab has two main thrusts: (1) Advancing the study of brain injuries and neurological disorders, and (2) developing sustainable, economical sensors for measuring the levels of toxic chemicals in the environment, some of which has an adverse effect on brain function. 

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BRAIN RESEARCH: We identify mechanisms, identify therapeutic windows, and test therapies for brain injuries and neurological disorders by (1) visualizing changes in cellular morphology, (2) recording glutamate and GABA neurotransmitters levels in real time with sub-millisecond resolution to analyze network function, and (3) measuring inflammation over multiple time points in the same rodents. To conduct this research, we have developed novel tools for in vivo, longitudinal optical imaging and neurochemical recording up to several months in the same animals. Using our longitudinal approach, we normalize measurements to preinjury baseline data, which reduces experimental variability and the numbers of animals required for a study; it also permits unparalleled comparisons between treatment conditions, the elucidation of time windows for the sequelae of pathological processes, and the timing of therapeutic effects over weeks or months.

 

Our brain research includes longitudinal studies of:

  • persistent inflammation-related damage in the secondary injury cascade associated with traumatic brain injury and stroke and the effects of novel therapies,

  • design and testing of novel neurochemical probes for long-term studies, and

  • continuous intracortical and subcortical EEG recordings in animal models of epilepsy to predict seizures and explain the network mechanisms of sleep disorders and memory loss.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS: We lead a multi-state research project (NSF FII FEC: OIA 2217824) entitled Facilitating Ubiquitous Technology Utilizing Resilient Eco-friendly Sensors, or FUTURE Sensors, to develop environmentally and economically sustainable sensors to measure toxic heavy metals and pesticides in the environment and for clinical use, especially in communities at risk. We are leveraging recently developed graphene-based technology and printable, conductive ink techniques developed in our group's labs and by others. Our approach greatly reduces the use of precious metals in sensors and obviates the need for silicon wafer production facilities. Together, we envision a future era of the widespread use of low-cost sensors that are produced in regions that have limited capital investments for manufacturing facilities. We aim to make a safer world while providing economic benefits for areas that need it most.

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FUNDING: We are funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and private foundations.


Murray lab publications and grants: click here for ORCID list.

Area for images (yellow box) has resting microglia.

Affect of GRIN lens implant on microglia morphology. An thin layer of inflammation exists under the GRIN lens, but does not extend into the imaged tissue. A) Lens track is the dark area at the top of image. The yellow box is the area imaged with the GRIN lens (working distance is 150 μm). Several microglial cells had de-ramified or amoeboid morphology, which is typical of activated microglia, in the non-imaging area immediately under the lens. The mean distance of activated microglia from the end of the lens was 46 μm (dotted blue line, n = 3 mice). This was also the mean thickness of the glial scar (image shown in paper). One such activated cell, identified by the top arrow, is enlarged in C). Only a few activated microglia (cell identified by lower arrow is enlarged in D) were observed in the imaging area. Most microglia had a ramified morphology which is indicative of the resting state (arrow in E points to ramified process). B. Similar to the region under the lens, the control areas had very few microglia with activated morphology (cells identified by arrows are enlarged in F and G). Scale bars are 50 μm. Lee et al., 2016, PLoS ONE.

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