Non-invasive assessment of cartilage in the spine: relating tissue biochemistry and microstructure with quantitative MRI
Aaron Fields, Professor
UC San Francisco
Closed. This professor is continuing with Spring 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Fall 2024.
Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology enable novel, quantitative, and non-invasive estimation of the biochemical composition of musculoskeletal tissues. The new ability to non-invasively assay tissue composition using MRI has major implications for understanding spinal pathologies related to low back pain, such as intervertebral disc degeneration. Recent discoveries from the Fields Lab have shown that MRI-based assessment of cartilage composition collected at the interface of the vertebra and disc (in the spinal cartilage endplate) associate with the extent of adjacent disc degeneration in patients with chronic low back pain. These discoveries link theories of disc cell nutrient supply with novel diagnostic tools for probing patient-specific etiologies of disc degeneration, and thus have implications for understanding fundamental physiologic/pathologic processes and for treating chronic low back pain.
Role: Specific research tasks include:
1. Learning and performing biochemical assays (for example, the dimethyl methylene blue [DMMB] binding assay to quantify proteoglycan content and/or the hydroxyproline assay to quantify collagen content) and lab techniques for tissue characterization (measuring tissue wet and dry weights, sample preparation, etc.)
2. Tissue dissection and histologic sectioning and staining for Fourier transform infrared microscopy/spectroscopy and polarized light microscopy
3. Organizing and preparing results and standard operating procedures
4. Identifying, reading, and presenting article summaries, including participation in the lab’s weekly journal club
5. Abstract/manuscript preparation (for example, preparing figures/tables, synthesizing findings with the literature, writing abstracts, drafting responses to reviewer comments)
The student will also have general lab responsibilities for the semester including:
1. Maintaining communication with the day-to-day research mentor (Dr. Noah Bonnheim) as well as the PI (Dr. Aaron Fields). (Tell us if you’re over-worked, under-worked, disinterested, or otherwise not having a good time).
2. Delivering a final presentation of your research project to the lab group at the end of the semester.
3. Having fun and learning as much as possible!
Qualifications: We are recruiting an undergraduate with a background/interest in biochemistry or molecular or cell biology to help characterize the biochemical composition and microstructure of cadaveric spinal cartilage. This work will involve performing biochemical assays, tissue dissection, histologic sectioning and staining, and related lab research tasks. The student will also be expected to contribute to non-technical aspects of the research process including writing manuscripts and conference abstracts. All technical training will be provided.
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: (Hybrid—some in person work required) UCSF Parnassus Campus 513 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94143
Biological & Health Sciences