RII Track 1: West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT)

神经系统结构和功能的潜在灵活性，广泛称为神经可塑性，是神经系统发育的基础，也是神经系统在生物体面临变化时如何适应的基础。“西弗吉尼亚州功能神经科学和转录组学网络”（WV-NFNT）项目旨在建立神经科学和数据科学方面的人力和物力基础设施能力。这个项目将研究神经系统在发育过程中和对刺激的反应沿着两个主题的变化能力：1）发育和成年期间的回路可塑性;和2）突触结构和可塑性作为功能改变的结果。WV-NFNT将通过实施特定的教育和劳动力发展活动来扩大神经科学和数据科学领域工作人员的能力和多样性，这些活动将吸引学生，特别是农村，第一代大学生以及传统上代表性不足的其他群体，在这些研究领域。来自全州四个机构的神经科学家和生物信息学家之间的新合作将使西弗吉尼亚州成为神经科学研究中心。该项目将由高等教育政策委员会与四所机构合作管理：马歇尔大学、谢泼德大学、西弗吉尼亚大学和西弗吉尼亚州立大学。WV-NFNT项目将为最具影响力的神经科学研究领域之一--电路和突触可塑性做出贡献。尽管神经可塑性的重要性，大脑变化的机制还没有完全理解。WV-NFNT专门设计用于使用先进的技术，包括受激发射耗尽（STED）显微镜和单细胞和/或空间转录组学，以了解各种动物模型中电路，神经元，神经胶质和突触的神经可塑性。以高分辨率阐明结构-功能关系的新方法正在推进研究突触、细胞和神经回路如何在空间细节水平上控制的能力，直到最近才成为可能。 WV-NFNT项目汇集了研究这些问题的研究人员，并提供了基础设施来解决有关神经功能知识的关键差距。该项目将在西弗吉尼亚州发展神经科学和生物信息学社区，该项目的研究部分的很大一部分将由研究生和本科生学员进行。在神经科学和数据科学研究方面对受训者进行正式培训和指导，再加上实习机会，将有助于实现将西弗吉尼亚人安置在有竞争力的研究生课程或STEM行业就业的目标。WV-NFNT还将通过实施具体的教育和劳动力发展活动，扩大神经科学和数据科学领域工作人员的能力和多样性，这些活动将使受训人员参与整个职业生涯，特别是农村，第一代大学生，以及那些来自传统上在STEM中代表性不足的其他群体的人。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

The underlying flexibility in nervous system structure and function, broadly known as neural plasticity, is the basis for nervous system development and how the nervous system can adapt when organisms are confronted by change. The "West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics" (WV-NFNT) project seeks to build human and physical infrastructure capacity in neuroscience and data science. This project will examine the ability of the nervous system to change during development and in response to stimuli along two themes: 1) circuit plasticity during development and adulthood; and 2) synaptic structure and plasticity as a result of altered function. WV-NFNT will expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and data science by implementing specific education and workforce development activities that will engage students, especially rural, first-generation college students, and those from other groups traditionally underrepresented, in these research areas. New collaborations among neuroscientists and bio-informaticists from four institutions across the state will position West Virginia to be a center for neuroscience research. The project will be administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission in collaboration with four institutions: Marshall University, Shepherd University, West Virginia University, and West Virginia State University.The WV-NFNT project will contribute to one of the most impactful neuroscience research areas – circuit and synaptic plasticity. Despite the importance of neural plasticity, the mechanisms by which the brain changes are not fully understood. WV-NFNT is specifically designed to use advanced techniques including stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and single-cell and/or spatial transcriptomics to understand neural plasticity of circuits, neurons, glia, and synapses in various animal models. New methodologies to elucidate structure-function relationships at high resolution are advancing the ability to examine how synapses, cells, and neural circuits are controlled at a level of spatial detail not possible until recently. The WV-NFNT project brings together researchers who work on these questions and provides the infrastructure to address key gaps in knowledge about neural function. The project will grow the neuroscience and bioinformatics community in West Virginia, and a significant portion of the research component of this project will be conducted by graduate and undergraduate trainees. Formalized training and mentorship of trainees in neuroscience and data science research, coupled with access to internships, will contribute to the goal of placing West Virginians in competitive post-graduate programs or employment in STEM industries. WV-NFNT will also expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and data science by implementing specific education and workforce development activities that will engage trainees across the career continuum—especially rural, first-generation college students, and those from other groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.