Interdisciplinary Research in Mental Retardation

描述（由申请人提供）：生物学内外的基本问题是大脑如何发育以及它与环境的相互作用如何影响行为。马萨诸塞大学医学院（UMMS）的发育障碍研究中心（DDRC）通过对典型和非典型发育的广泛研究项目来解决这些问题，包括生物医学、生物行为、行为和社会科学维度。具体的重点领域包括发育神经科学，神经发育障碍遗传学，感觉系统和信息处理，行为和认知神经科学，认知心理学和行为分析，以及社会过程和政策分析。发展研究中心及其伙伴大学发展障碍卓越研究中心（UCEDD）也为从事研究和为残疾人及其家庭提供服务的专业人员提供培训。UMMS DDRC的研究兴趣包括(1)了解神经系统发育过程中发生的生物过程；(2)表征影响神经系统的遗传疾病的分子缺陷；(3)建立神经发育障碍以及可能相关的神经精神和神经退行性疾病的遗传基础；(4)识别可能参与MRDD的脑区和功能系统；(5)推进有关学习、感知、语言和认知的基本过程的知识；(6)应用后一种知识来改善MRDD患者的教育机会；(7)理解与MRDD患者及其家庭相关的社会过程和社会政策影响。修订后的MRDDRC资助申请包括UMMS教师和项目之间的一些新的跨学科合作。建议设立四个核心单位，以鼓励进一步开展与发展和发展方案和人口与发展方案的任务有关的合作。核心单位是：行政、神经科学整合和支持、科学技术信息服务和临床和转化研究支持。每个核心单元都具有设备、设施和/或解决问题的能力，并为众多phs资助的项目提供高质量、高成本效益的服务。核心的集体操作将加强现有的MRDD研究，并在UMMS及其附属机构中刺激MRDD的新的跨学科和转化研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Fundamental issues both within and beyond biology are how the brain develops and how its interactions with the environment influence behavior. The Developmental Disabilities Research Center (DDRC) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) addresses these issues through wide-ranging programs of research on typical and atypical development, which include biomedical, biobehavioral, behavioral, and social science dimensions. Specific focus areas include developmental neuroscience, genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders, sensory systems and information processing, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology and behavior analysis, and social process and policy analysis. The DDRC and its companion University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) also train professionals for careers in research and service to people with disabilities and their families. Research interests of the UMMS DDRC include (1) understanding biological processes that occur during development of the nervous system; (2) characterizing molecular defects in genetic disorders which affect the nervous system; (3) establishing the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, along with potentially related neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders; (4) identifying brain regions and functional systems that may be involved in MRDD; (5) advancing knowledge of fundamental processes involved in learning, perception, language, and cognition; (6) applying the latter knowledge to improve the educational opportunities for persons with MRDD, and (7) understanding social processes and social policy implications relevant to persons with MRDD and their families. This revised application for MRDDRC funding encompasses a number of new interdisciplinary collaborations among UMMS faculty and programs. Four core units are proposed to encourage further collaborations relevant to the missions of the DDRC and NICHD. The core units are: Administration, Neuroscience Integration and Support, Scientific and Technical Information Services, and Clinical and Translational Research Support. Each core unit features equipment, facilities, and/or problem-solving capability, and each gives quality, cost-effective service to numerous PHS-funded projects. The collective operations of the cores will both enhance existing MRDD research, and stimulate new interdisciplinary and translational research in MRDD at UMMS and its affiliated institutions.