5335451-Sole_Source_Justification_-_2019.pdf

Sole Source

JUSTIFICATION

The NEI Retinal Neurophysiology Section studies the structure and function of retinal synapses and circuits. Although we know the basic structure and major cell types of the retina, it remains much of a “black box” in terms of the connections and functions of these neurons. Their long-term research goal is to understand how the neuronal circuits are wired in this “black box” under normal conditions and how the circuits are altered during pathological processes. Both pieces of information will be crucial for the design of biological and/or prosthetic interventions aiming to restore vision in many types of blindness caused by retinal degenerative diseases. They’ll exploit a combination of anatomical and physiological approaches to study synaptic connectivity using in vitro slice and flat-mount preparations of the ground squirrel retina. This is an excellent model system to study the cone vision, as ground squirrel is one of the rare mammals whose retina is cone-dominated and resembles the fovea of human retina.

- The hibernating ground squirrels are of the species Ictidomys tridecemlineatus.

- Dr. Li’s research requires a consistent supply of comparable animals. Dr. Li needs to use animals of a precise age and known genetic background in order to achieve results that are comparable throughout the course of his research over time.

- Dr. Li needs access to animals of a particular age throughout the year and must take delivery of the animals from time to time throughout the year when the animals are available and his lab has the ability to work with the ready animals. He cannot receive a large batch in one shipment.

- The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, is the only source of live Ictidomys tridecemlineatus in the US.

- The university maintains a controlled, genetically-stable, genetically-characterized, inbreed colony. Further, the consensus genome of the colony is known and the genetic information is available to Dr. Wei and integrated into the interpretation of his research results.

- The university does not sell the animals, but does provide the animals for not-for-profit research use. The university conducts the colony on a not-for-profit basis, but they are not budgeted for costs of providing the animals to other research institutions. The university will provide animals at no cost for the animals, but, they require that the requestors/recipients of animals pay for the breeding, handling, and shipping of the animals.

Wei Li, MD/PhD, Senior Investigator Chief, Retinal Neurobiology Section National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health Porter Neuroscience Research Center 35 Convent Drive, Building 35A, Room 3F-226 Bethesda, MD 20892-3739

Tel: (301) 496-6669 https://nei.nih.gov/intramural/retinal_neuro_1