# Structure and Function Services Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2020 · $165,212

## Abstract

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY- RESEARCH SERVICES CORE-002
This Research Services Core contributes to the investigation of the neural and molecular bases of presbycusis,
(age-related hearing loss – ARHL) therein provides essential knowledge for future preventative and curative
translational research initiatives. Specific aspects of the neural and molecular etiologies of the functional
features of age-related declines and therapeutic interventions being tested, will be explored in collaboration
with the multidisciplinary Projects of this P01. We will apply molecular, cellular and systems biology hearing
science, and neuroscientific techniques to support the investigations of functionally defined age-related
changes, and their modifications by the novel, proposed therapies. This Research Services Core-002 will
complement the other projects by performing standardized and repetitive procedures
.
SPECIFIC AIM 1: Determine if hormonal supplementation can prevent or slow down the progression of
presbycusis. Core Aim 1, Service Goals: Gene Expression- real-time PCR and in situ hybridization.
Proteomics- Quantitative immunocytochemistry and Western blots. Anatomy- brain tissue processing for
immunocytochemistry, cutting and mounting sections, cover slipping, imaging and data analyses, and graphics
for reporting and publications. Hormone and blood assays: Perform blood chemistry: and blood pressure
measurements on rodents.
SPECIFIC AIM 2: Determine the ability of enriched acoustic environments (AAEs) to arrest salient
features of presbycusis. Effects of administering AAEs will index peripheral and central components and
biomarkers of ARHL at systems, cellular and molecular levels. Core Aim 2, Service Goals – Gene
expression, molecular biology and immunocytochemistry experiments: Carry out and provide routine
perfusions, brain tissue processing for immunocytochemistry, and processing for gene and protein expression
experiments; image and data analyses, and graphics for figure production and reporting.
SPECIFIC AIM 3: Identify cellular and molecular pathway principles governing brain neuropathology
associated with changes in neural pathways associated with central gain mechanisms in cases of
ARHL. Relations between central gain change pathway severity quantitative metrics and molecular,
physiological and anatomical biomarker changes will be examined consistent with the objective of developing
therapeutic interventions to alleviate deficits in aging animals. Core Aim 3, Service Goals: Provide routine
molecular biological and histological support for all experiments to examine relations between functional
changes identified in Projects 2 and 3, and ARHL biomarkers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9868866
- **Project number:** 5P01AG009524-25
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Bo Ding
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $165,212
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9868866

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9868866, Structure and Function Services Core (5P01AG009524-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9868866. Licensed CC0.

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