Wet bench

[Primate]

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I ask this question about 1/year. Been a while (I think), and I'm not sure I've even ever posted it on SDN, so here goes.

Anyone know of wet-bench research going on in radiology departments? I'm a neuro type and my PhD was at the bench. I suppose I'm concerned about the opportunities and, perhaps more importantly, departmental support for bench research (rather than more clinically focused work) in rads. Most of what I've seen on program sites and such has been clinical research.

Thoughts appreciated.

P

 

[Voxel]

What type of research are you interested in doing specifically? Explain exactly what YOU mean by wet bench as applied to neuroscience/neurology.

 

[Primate]

My background is in dev neurobio - mutant mice, tissue culture, mol bio all to get at the molecular basis of normal function and in disease states (mostly cell migration and its abnormalities in brain development).

I'm interested in the cell/molecular correlates to changes one sees on brain imaging (we worked closely with peds neuro-rads in both characterizing disorders and in identifying patients for tissue samples - all post-mortem, somewhat sadly). We also developed/worked with a mouse model of this disease to get at the underlying pathogenesis. All in all, a nice collaboration. What I'm interested in doing is being on both sides of that fence - imaging with a side of wet bench.

I'm also becoming more interested in functional studies (more the nuclear medicine "fuzzograms" than the fMRI thang - although putting them together might be interesting). I'm not sure where to go with this one, but I've always been interested in human performance and this might be one way to get at it. Seems there's been at least some progress in these areas.

More clear, or am I spinning my wheels? Interested in what y'all think on this one.

Also interested in whether you think departments will support this kind of work or are they more set on clinical/descriptive work that can be accomplished while still reading a fair volume of films.

P

 

[Voxel]

Sounds like pathology is where you should aim your interests if you want cell /molecular bio "wet bench" work.

 

[Voxel]

However there are some interesting molecular imaging going on in MRI that may be a nich area. But if you want to do lots of cell bio stuff most of it is in the pathology realm. Not saying that it is impossible from the radiology avenue, but currently there are many more possibilities from pathology avenue at this time (for a wet lab).

 

[Primate]

So, I've been noodling this one a bit and have a follow on question. During my medicine rotation I've seen rads input used daily on any number of patients. Path has had a role in some instances as well, when we could cells off a patient to send. Does anyone think that rads is going to be able to get to the point with molecular imaging that they'll be able to provide some of the consultative services that path currently does?

 

[eddieberetta]

Hi Primate,

You have to decide what you want your clinical role to be. As a radiologist, you will be involved in the imaging side, and not the diagnostic pathology side of things.

However, from a research point of view, there is no reason why you can't have an active wet lab of the type you are describing, as a clinician scientist. However, you will not get much training in molecular biology/pathology in radiology, so you would have to develop these skills on your own, as part of a MS/PHD (or you may already have these). You would of course need to get funding for your work.

It would make sense for your research to have some imaging angle, but like in all reserarch, you may be taken on a tangent that does not relate directly to rads. Not every clinician-scientist's lab research fits perfectly into their specialty (i.e. Rad onc's studying the cell biology of cancer, surgeons testing chemo agents...). Try to make the specialty choice on what "day job" you like the most... and the research will follow you.

As for your second point, advances in imaging will obviate the need for pathology in some cases (e.g adrenal adenomas, possibly MRS in the future) but there will always be many cases where path is essential.

Cheers