High Content Screening and Functional Genomics of the Nervous System

The massive data sets available from the various genome projects combined with sophisticated image analysis and automated microscopes has created an opportunity to revolutionize the study of the development and function of the nervous system. Our laboratory has developed methods that allow us to test hundreds of genes in hundreds of thousands of neurons each week and obtain quantitative data on scores of parameters about cell morphology and gene expression from each neuron. This is accomplished by acquiring thousands of images within hours and analyzing them in real time. This high throughput capability allows us to answer questions about development, regeneration and synapse formation using Systems Biology approaches.