RCN: Refining and diversifying ecological immunology

RCN：生态免疫学的完善和多样化

• 批准号: 0947177
• 负责人: Lynn Martin
• 金额: $ 49.05万
• 依托单位: University of South Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-02-15 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0947177&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RCN; Refining; diversifying; ecological; immunology

Immunity to parasites has historically been understudied in evolutionary ecology. In recent years efforts to understand the causes and consequences of natural variation in immune function in wild animals, termed ecological immunology, has transformed multiple realms of biology. To foster continued productivity and expansion of this new field, theoretical refinement and methodological consistency will be critical. This grant will help bring together 36 internationally recognized ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and immunologists to i) develop new techniques and concepts, ii) enhance breadth and depth of research questions, iii) establish new interdisciplinary collaborations, and iv) stimulate outreach and training opportunities for schoolteachers and the public (through a routinely updated website). This network will be open to all scientists. The current network membership is highly diverse, with 50% female members and many individuals who identify themselves as belonging to minorities. Such a diverse group, in conjunction with meetings held outside the USA (2 out of 5 over a five year period), will foster a sense of international community and expose early-career participants to a multitude of scientific and social cultures. Also, the direct engagement of high school teachers in this program will augment the inclusion of evolutionary thinking in American elementary, middle and high school classrooms. In sum, the network will provide novel perspective to evolutionary biology and immunology, both of which should be insightful for human health. Pedagogically, this network will provide training for students from underrepresented backgrounds and expose high school teachers, their students, and the interested public to a field of truly integrative, modern science.

在进化生态学中，对寄生虫的免疫力一直没有得到充分的研究。近年来，了解野生动物免疫功能自然变化的原因和后果的努力，被称为生态免疫学，已经改变了生物学的多个领域。为了促进这一新领域的持续生产力和扩展，理论的完善和方法的一致性将是至关重要的。这项资助将帮助36名国际公认的生态学家、进化生物学家和免疫学家聚集在一起，以i)开发新的技术和概念，ii)提高研究问题的广度和深度，iii)建立新的跨学科合作，以及iv)为学校教师和公众（通过定期更新的网站）提供推广和培训机会。这个网络将对所有科学家开放。目前的网络成员非常多样化，女性成员占50%，许多人认为自己属于少数族裔。这样一个多元化的小组，加上在美国以外举行的会议（五年内五次中有两次），将培养一种国际社会的意识，并使早期职业参与者接触到大量的科学和社会文化。此外，高中教师直接参与这个项目将增加进化论思想在美国小学、初中和高中课堂的包容性。总而言之，该网络将为进化生物学和免疫学提供新的视角，这两者都应该对人类健康有深刻的见解。在教学方面，该网络将为来自代表性不足背景的学生提供培训，并使高中教师、他们的学生和感兴趣的公众接触到真正综合的现代科学领域。