MBRS SCORE Program at Alabama State University

描述(由申请者提供)：阿拉巴马州立大学(ASU)寻求通过申请继续其成功的少数民族生物医学研究支持(MBRS)-支持持续卓越研究(SCORE)计划来支持其对卓越研究的承诺。向国家普通医学科学研究所(NIGMS)/国家卫生研究院(NIH)申请四(4)年(2004-2008年)的资金。亚利桑那州立大学MBRS-SCORE计划的总体目标是推进MBRS-SCORE计划的愿景和使命，在少数族裔服务机构培养生物医学研究教师，他们致力于改善竞争性研究计划，增加专业从事生物医学研究的代表性不足的少数族裔的数量。建议的亚利桑那州立大学MBRS-SCORE项目包括两(2)个分别在感觉生理学、分子病毒学和环境生物修复学科的研究项目。 第一个子项目将研究哺乳动物犁鼻器中信号转导的分子机制，犁鼻器是一种化学感官器官，调节信息素对生殖行为和生理的感知。 第二个子项目将评估针对呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)的DNA疫苗的免疫保护作用。RSV是导致毛细支气管炎和肺炎的上呼吸道和下呼吸道疾病的最常见病毒原因之一。 管理部分旨在促进该计划的研究和计划活动的协调运作，确保该计划与大学非常成功的现有生物医学研究和培训计划的目标、目的和活动的统一、协同的接口，并评估各个子项目和整个计划在实现其拟议目标方面的进展。 拟议的亚利桑那州立大学MBRS-SCORE计划最终将通过为代表不足的少数族裔提供更多从事生物医学研究的机会，最终有助于增强阿拉巴马州立大学的生物医学研究能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alabama State University (ASU) seeks to support its commitment to research excellence by applying for continuation of its successful Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)-Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) Program. Funding is requested for four (4) years (2004-2008) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/National Institutes of Health (NIH). The overall Goal of the proposed ASU MBRS-SCORE Program is to advance the vision and mission of the MBRS-SCORE Program to develop biomedical research faculty at minority-serving institutions who are committed to improving competitive research programs and increasing the number of underrepresented minorities professionally engaged in biomedical research. The proposed ASU MBRS-SCORE Program features two (2) research projects in the disciplines of sensory physiology, molecular virology and environmental bioremediation, respectively. The first subproject will study the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction in the mammalian vomeronasal organ, a chemosensory organ that mediates the perception of pheromones affecting reproductive behavior and physiology. The second subproject will assess the immunoprotective effects of a DNA vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one of the most common viral causes of upper and lower respiratory tract disease leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. An administrative component aims to facilitate coordinated operation of the Program's research and programmatic activities, assure unified, synergistic interface of the Program with the goals, objectives and activities of the University's highly successful existing Biomedical Research and Training Programs, and evaluate the progress of the individual subprojects and overall Program toward attainment of its proposed aims. The proposed ASU MBRS-SCORE Program will ultimately contribute to enhancing the biomedical research capability of Alabama State University by providing expanded opportunities for underrepresented minorities to engage in biomedical research.