BME Senior Joseph Southern recently co-authored a research publication with BME Alum Colin Kitz of Becton, Dickinson and Company titled “An integrated workflow for 2D and 3D posture analysis during vestibular system testing in mice”. The project that lead to their article has been a project Holman has been running and refining diligently for over 5 years. The project was started in conjunction with, and under the supervision of, BME Faculty Holly Holman, Ph.D. when Kitz was in his undergraduate program. This article showcases their research in the utility and specificity of a well-established protocol, the balance beam, for examining balance and active motor coordination in adult mice of both sexes. “Adding markerless pose estimation with machine learning to existing behavioral testing provides a new opportunity to examine subtle and/or early changes in vestibular function.” Says Holman, Research Assistant Professor of Utah BME.
When asked about this project, Southern had this to say about the experience “The vestibular system is essential in everyday balance, spatial orientation and coordination. Exploring vestibular function in aging mice has revealed subtle yet significant changes as we age. Understanding changes in the vestibular system, helps us understand age-related balance deficits, where future developments can be made to mitigate these impairments and improve the quality of life for aging individuals. I am very grateful for my mentor (Dr. Holman) for welcoming me into this project, as it has been instrumental for my personal and professional growth.”
Read their full article here.