eBat

Pathways Research Cooperative (Fall/Spring)

Unique opportunity for TAMUS faculty to participate in Vascular Research

The Michael E. DeBakey Institute at Texas A&M University College Station houses extensive equipment for the study of blood and blood vessels by noninvasive means. In particular, the Cardiovascular Systems Dynamics Lab directed by Dr. Quick, has developed the sole, extant, chronic colony of Pallid bats dedicated to cardiovascular science. Why bats? The thin, non-pigmented, translucent wings of the bats allow the microvasculature to be viewed in vivo. With extensive facilities for intravital microscopy, an almost limitless supply of bats, and a cadre of cardiovascular researchers, we have more resources to support research than we have people.

Leveraging our resources to develop your research program

Expanding a program established in the Fall of 2004 at Texas A&M University College Station by Drs. Christopher Quick and Felecia Nave, the DeBakey Institute offers a unique opportunity for faculty at Texas A&M System schools. Faculty from both engineering and life sciences can access the unique resources of the batwing model at College Station using the remote tools of the eBat Project. The catch: all interested faculty are expected to mentor local undergraduates who are interested in getting authentic research experience. The most efficient model we have found for leveraging the labor of motivated students is team-based, where undergraduate are divided into interdisciplinary teams of three lead by graduate students (if they are available). Dr. Quick at TAMU-College Station has used this model to turn a class into a large-scale research program. By offering academic credit for Research, Independent Study, or “Special Topics”, it may be possible to simultaneously create an undergraduate research program and get credit for teaching a class. Your undergraduate and graduate student participants will have the opportunity to travel to Dr. Quick’s Lab to participate in the DeBakey Summer Institute to perform experiments during the summer, although most experiments will be conducted Fall/Spring remotely using our internet-based control of the intravital microscope. Funds are available for up to 34 students from our NSF- and NIH-funded programs. The goal of the Pathways Research Cooperative is to leverage the Michael E. DeBakey Summer Institute to develop research partnerships that bridges Texas public universitites, broadly implementing the TAMU System Pathways Concept.

Introducing eBat

In the past, research has been confined to a few individuals physically located in the lab. However, with your help we can create an open access lab in which sharing ideas, performing experiments, analyzing data, and communicating results is a collaborative effort with researchers across Texas. With computer control of our microscope, it is now possible to perform research on our bats remotely (ebat.tamu.edu) via the Internet.

Experimental Schedule

Experimental schedules will be developed when the semester begins. Time Commitment Faculty interested in utilizing our resources are expected to mentor a team of students at their home school. We suggest meeting with students roughly once a month, to discuss issues in science. We will expect students to perform some experiments remotely. Collection of data (lasting 1-3 hours), although essential, is only one aspect that makes up a research project. Experiments must be designed, data must be analyzed, literature must be reviewed, and ideas must be shared. By encouraging communicating with students at College Station, this process becomes easier for all.

Scientific Publication and Grant Submissions

Faculty mentoring students at system schools are expected to work with faculty and students at TAMU—College Station to develop publishable manuscripts. It is expected that the local student mentors will be senior authors. Data developed with this collaboration will be available for submission of grant applications by the local mentors.