UAB MENTAL RETARDATION RESEARCH CENTER (MRRC)

位于伯明翰的亚拉巴马大学（UAB）的智力迟钝研究中心（MRRC）建立在过去30年来UAB对智力迟钝和发育障碍（MR/DD）领域的贡献之上。MRRC的使命有三个方面：增加MR/DD预防干预措施的科学知识;促进对有效治疗策略的理解，以改善MR/DD的个人、家庭和社会后果。来自14个基础科学和临床部门的42项研究（90个资助或待决的研究项目将使用核心支持）将参与其中。六个主要的研究小组是：一。功能性突触发育和可塑性; II.神经系统发育的分子生物学/遗传学; III.神经内分泌学与传染病，IV。风险条件和早期干预，五，低出生体重和早产，和六。学习、记忆和智力。行政和通信核心单元（核心A）提供科学领导，赞助中心范围的科学研讨会和座谈会，鼓励创新和新的多学科合作，积极指导初级MRRC调查员，并监督行政职能。四个研究核心是：重组技术核心（核心B）、同步激光扫描成像和电生理学核心（核心C）、纵向研究和统计建模核心（核心D）以及发育神经生物学成像和组织处理核心（核心E）。这些核心的目的是促进多学科合作，及时交流信息和技术进步，吸引新的研究人员参与MR/DD研究，促进与其他MRRC的研究活动，以及提高受资助研究项目的质量和生产力，同时证明成本效益。高度优先事项是吸收妇女和代表性不足的族裔/种族群体的个人作为研究资源中心的科学家、受训人员和研究项目的参与者。

The Mental Retardation Research Center (MRRC) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) builds upon UAB's contributions over the past 3 decades to the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MR/DD). The MRRC's mission is threefold: to increase scientific knowledge preventative interventions for MR/DD; and to advance understanding about effective treatment strategies to ameliorate the personnel, familial, and societal consequence of MR/DD. Forty-two investigations from 14 basic science and clinical departments (with 90 funded or pending research projects that will use core supports) will participate. The 6 major Research Groups are: I. Functional synaptic development and plasticity; II. Molecular biology/genetics of nervous system development; III. Neuroendocrinology and infectious disease, IV. Risk conditions and early interventions, V. Low birthweight and prematurity, and VI. Learning, memory, and intelligence. An Administration and Communications Core Unit (Core A) provides scientific leadership, sponsors center-wide scientific seminars and colloquia, encourages innovation and new multi-disciplinary collaborations, actively mentors junior MRRC investigators, and oversees administrative functioning. The four Research Cores are: the Recombinant Technologies Core (Core B), the Simultaneous Laser Scanning Imaging and Electrophysiology Core (Core C), the Longitudinal Studies and Statistical Modeling Core (Core D), and the Developmental Neurobiology Imaging and Tissue Processing Core (Core E). Individually and collectively, these cores are designed to promote multi-disciplinary collaboration, timely exchange of information and technology advances, attract new investigators to MR/DD research, and promote research activities with other MRRCs, as well as to increase the quality and productivity of funded research projects while demonstrating cost- effectiveness. Of high priority is the inclusion of women and individual from under-represented ethnic/racial groups as MRRC scientists, trainees, and participants in research projects.