Vibratome instrument upgrade to study brain disorders
Official title: VIBRATOME
Funded at East Tennessee State University · NIH-11363279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vibratome instrument will be bought to help researchers prepare high-quality brain slices from CNS disease models for detailed cellular and molecular studies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Tennessee State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Johnson City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $54,389 |
| NIH project number | 1S10GM164757-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with CNS disorders or conditions linked to brain injury, autonomic dysfunction, PTSD, chronic pain, or memory-related issues could indirectly benefit from improvements in understanding these conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not connected to CNS research or not involved in future translational work may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a modern vibratome so our lab can reliably cut healthy brain slices, enabling precise electrophysiology and molecular analyses in CNS disease research. Researchers plan to use the instrument to optimize nerve stimulation approaches, study neuroinflammation and memory circuits, and explore brain area interactions related to trauma, autonomic dysfunction, and chronic pain. It also supports hands-on training for graduate students in advanced tissue preparation within the Molecular Biology Core Facility. The upgrade aims to overcome equipment limitations that currently impair tissue integrity and experimental success.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from accelerated basic science that informs future therapies for CNS disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Similar vibratome upgrades in neuroscience labs have improved tissue quality and experimental success in electrophysiology and molecular analyses.
Where this research is happening
-
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campbell, Regenia Beth Phillips — East Tennessee State University
- Study coordinator: Campbell, Regenia Beth Phillips
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.