SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOL

本提案是对RFA: NS-99-0001题为“少数民族机构的专业神经科学研究计划（SNRP）”的回应。波多黎各大学实际上是一所百分之百的少数民族大学，分布在波多黎各联邦的11个校区。我们申请SNRP项目的目的是，通过支持三位有前途的年轻波多黎各神经科学家，他们的职业生涯刚刚开始，它将在加强岛上的神经科学研究和教学方面发挥重要作用。这三人将与美国主要研究型大学经验丰富、资金充足的神经科学家合作。神经生物学研究所的Luis Santana将与佛蒙特大学的Mark Nelson合作，里约热内卢Piedras校区生物系的Sandra Pena将与加州大学洛杉矶分校的Alcino Silva合作，医学院生理学系的Jorge Miranda将与路易斯维尔大学的Scoot Whittemore合作。我们预计这三位科学家将在波多黎各形成一个有竞争力的神经科学社区的核心中发挥重要作用，该社区将包括本科生、研究生和研究生，以及将在岛上生活和工作的更高级的研究人员。该项目将由神经生物学研究所主任Allen Selverston博士指导，他之前曾指导过大型项目资助。我们认为这个项目是一个难得的机会，可以“启动”波多黎各大学的主流神经科学研究，并有机会向学生和普通大众展示当代大脑研究的兴奋之处。

This proposal is in response to RFA: NS-99-0001 entitled Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs (SNRP) at Minority Institutions. The University of Puerto Rico is virtually a one hundred percent Minority Instituted distributed among eleven campuses throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Our intention in applying for this SNRP programs is that it will play a major role in the strengthening of Neuroscience research and teaching on the island by supporting three promising young Puerto Rican Neuroscientists who are at the beginning of their careers. All three will collaborate with experienced, well-funded neuroscientists at major research universities in the United States. Luis Santana from the Institute of Neurobiology will collaborate with Mark Nelson from the University of Vermont, Sandra Pena of the Biology Department on the Rio Piedras Campus will collaborate with Alcino Silva of UCLA and Jorge Miranda from the Physiology Department of the Medical School will collaborate with Scoot Whittemore from the University of Louisville. We anticipate these three scientists will play a major role in forming the nucleus of a competitive neuroscience community in Puerto Rico that will include undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students as well as more advanced researchers who will live and work on the island. The program will be directed by Dr. Allen Selverston, the Director of the Institute of Neurobiology who has directed large Program Project Grants previously. We view this program as a rare opportunity to "jump start" mainstream Neuroscience research at the University or Puerto Rico and a chance to demonstrate the excitement of contemporary brain research to students and general population alike.