Texas Consortium Program in Behavioral Neuroscience

描述(申请人提供)：德克萨斯行为神经科学联盟成立于2002年，是美国第一个地区性培训联盟，其使命是从代表性不足的人群中增加一流行为神经科学家的数量。它提供了一种新的机构间合作、资源共享、联网和支持性氛围，有利于更好的研究、教育和专业发展。它为那些在科学方面具有非凡天赋的受训者创造了成功的机会，而这些天赋在历史上一直没有得到传统培训计划的帮助。它致力于向许多传统上被关闭的功勋个人敞开大门。它寻求资金支持10名博士后和5名博士后受训人员，他们来自代表性不足的族裔和种族群体、残疾人和弱势背景个人，他们将开展与NIMH、NIDA和NINDS相关的研究。这个创新的联盟加强了5个机构之间的合作和资源分配，并在具有成功培训知识的高素质神经学家的领导下统一了它们的培训工作。教职人员由26名由NIH资助的PI组成，他们在研究和培训方面进行合作，并致力于增加多样性，他们是从5所德克萨斯机构中挑选出来的，这些机构在奥斯汀的德克萨斯大学、圣安东尼奥的德克萨斯大学、德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥的德克萨斯大学健康科学中心和德克萨斯农工系统健康科学中心有成功的合作和培训记录。基础广泛的培训涵盖行为、生物医学和翻译研究，包括行为功能和障碍的神经成像、系统药理学、电生理学和神经生物学。培训强调专业发展、赠款写作和口头和书面沟通技能，以及大脑和行为、研究道德、实验设计和统计方面的课程。学员的成功是通过以大量成功的教职员工和同行为榜样的区域网络、专业丰富的活动以及响应性的导师式学习氛围来增加的。该项目的优势包括：1)该地区大量合格的拉美裔学生；2)过去和现在的学员的工作效率和成功；3)除了个别机构提供的专业丰富和网络机会；4)教师和咨询委员会的质量和相关经验；以及5)跨机构的翻译研究机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Texas Consortium in Behavioral Neuroscience started in 2002 as the first regional training consortium in the USA with the mission to increase the number of first-rate behavioral neuroscientists from underrepresented populations. It offers a new model of inter-institutional cooperation, resource-sharing, networking and supportive climate conducive to a superior research education and professional development. It creates opportunities for the success of trainees with a gift of exceptional aptitude for science that have been historically underserved by traditional training programs. It is dedicated to opening doors to many meritorious individuals for whom doors have traditionally been closed. It seeks funding to support 10 predoctoral and 5 postdoctoral trainees from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, who will conduct research relevant to NIMH, NIDA and NINDS. This innovative consortium enhances the cooperation and resource allocation among 5 institutions and unifies their training effort under the leadership of highly qualified neuroscientists with proven knowledge of successful training. The faculty comprises 26 NIH-funded PIs collaborating in research and training and committed to increasing diversity, selected from 5 Texas institutions with successful records of cooperation and training of underrepresented groups: University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M System Health Science Center. Broadly-based training spans behavioral, biomedical, and translational research, including neuroimaging, sychopharmacology, electrophysiology and neurobiology of behavioral functions and disorders. Training emphasizes professional development, grant writing and oral and written communication skills, as well as courses in brain and behavior, research ethics, experimental design and statistics. Trainee success is increased by a regional network with a critical mass of successful faculty and peers as role models, by professional enrichment activities, and by a responsive mentor-based learning climate. Strengths of this program include: 1) the large pool of qualified Hispanic students in the region, 2) the productivity and success of past and current trainees, 3) the professional enrichment and networking opportunities beyond those provided by the individual institutions, 4) the quality and relevant experience of the faculty and advisory committee, and 5) the inter- institutional opportunities for translational research.