UAB MENTAL RETARDATION RESEARCH CENTER (MRRC)

阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校(UAB)的精神发育迟滞研究中心(MRRC)建立在该大学过去30年来对智力发育迟缓和发育障碍(MR/DD)领域的贡献的基础上。MRRC的使命有三个方面：增加对MR/DD的预防干预的科学知识；促进对有效治疗策略的了解，以改善MR/DD的人员、家庭和社会后果。来自14个基础科学和临床部门的42项研究将参与(将使用核心支持的90个已资助或正在进行的研究项目)。6个主要研究小组是：1.功能性突触发育和可塑性；2.神经系统发育的分子生物学/遗传学；3.神经内分泌学和传染病；4.危险状况和早期干预；5.低出生体重和早产儿；以及6.学习、记忆和智力。行政和通信核心单位(核心A)提供科学领导，赞助全中心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MRRC初级调查人员，并监督行政职能。这四个研究核心是：重组技术核心(核心B)、同时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)和发育神经生物学成像和组织处理核心(核心E)。无论是单独还是集体，这些核心都旨在促进多学科合作，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，并在展示成本效益的同时，提高受资助研究项目的质量和生产率。当务之急是吸收来自代表性不足的族裔/种族群体的妇女和个人作为MRRC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.