Multimodal Neuroimaging Training Program

描述(由申请人提供)：这项研究的目标是促进新型跨学科培训计划的开发，该计划整合了两个组成部分：1)NRSA博士前培训计划和2)短期研究教育计划，其中将包括非NRSA博士前培训计划。活体成像技术已经有了很大的进步，它使神经科学家能够可视化分子、细胞和系统的生理和功能。要充分利用神经成像技术，重要的是要了解基本原理、数据检测以及数据建模和可视化。此外，每种技术都有自己的优势和局限性。为了克服一种神经成像模式的弱点，使用互补的成像模式是绝对必要的。通常，由于缺乏这些方法的适当培训，研究人员可能不会使用先进的神经成像技术，因此，对学生进行多种神经成像方法的原理和局限性的培训至关重要。为了实现这一目标，我们建议为博士前和短期暑期学生创建多模式神经影像培训项目(T90/R90)，该项目将由匹兹堡大学和卡内基梅隆大学联合运营。该项目将由认知神经基础中心(CNBC)管理，该中心无缝跨越两个研究所，是一个具有国际地位的协调的跨学科研究和教育中心。博士前培训计划的具体目标是：1)教授综合神经成像研究的基础神经科学；2)教授从动物到人类的结构磁共振成像(MRI)、功能MRI、正电子发射断层扫描、磁脑成像和光学成像的基本原理、建模和应用；3)整合多种方法并开展多模式神经成像项目。为了实现具体目标，学员将参加核心课程和实验室轮换、研讨会，并参加年度务虚会。除了研究生T90/R90培训计划，短期多模式神经成像暑期学校(R90)被提议为目标学生和研究人员教授多模式神经成像的协同作用，这些学生和研究人员在一种成像模式方面有经验，并希望将他们的培训扩展到其他模式。暑期课程将包括基础讲座、动手实验室研讨会和表演项目，强调多种成像模式的方法学。我们提议的计划将培训研究人员，使他们能够充分处理将多模式神经成像数据与各种数据获取和处理方法的知识以及适当的解释相结合的日益复杂的情况。这将加快多种成像方式在动物和人类基础和临床神经科学研究中的协同应用。所有培训教师在有效的跨学科培训和合作研究方面都有出色的记录。本培训计划中编写的材料将通过网络分发。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research is to enable the development of novel interdisciplinary training programs that integrate two components 1) an NRSA predoctoral training program and 2) a Short-Term Research Education Program, which will include a non-NRSA predoctoral training program. There have been great advances in in vivo imaging techniques, which allow neuroscientists to visualize molecular, cellular, and system physiology and functions. To fully utilize neuroimaging techniques, it is important to understand underlying principles, data detection, and data modeling and visualization. Furthermore, each technique has its own strengths and limitations. In order to overcome the weakness of one neuroimaging modality, it is absolutely essential to utilize complementary imaging modalities. Often, researchers may not utilize advanced neuroimaging technologies due to the lack of proper training in these methodologies, therefore, it is crucial to train students the principles and limitations of multiple neuroimaging modalities. In order to achieve this goal, we propose to create the Multimodal Neuroimaging Training Program (T90/R90) for predoctoral and short-term summer students, which will be jointly run by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. This program will be administered by the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC), which seamlessly spans both institutes and is a coordinated interdisciplinary research and educational Center of international stature. Specific aims of the predoctoral training program are to 1) teach basic neuroscience for integrative neuroimaging research; 2) to teach underlying principles, modeling, and applications of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, positron emission tomography, magnetoencephalography, and optical imaging from animals to humans; and 3) to integrate multiple methods and carry out multimodal neuroimaging projects. To achieve the specific aims, trainees will take core courses and laboratory rotations, seminars and participate in an annual retreat. In addition to the graduate T90/R90 training program, the short-term Multimodal Neuroimaging Summer School (R90) is proposed to teach the synergy of multi-modal neuroimaging for targeted students and investigators who have experience in one imaging modality and want to expand their training to other modalities. The summer program will consist of basic lectures, hand-on laboratory workshop, and performing projects, emphasizing the methodologies of multiple imaging modalities. Our proposed program will train researchers for adequate handling of the increasing complexity of combining multimodal neuroimaging data with the knowledge of various data acquisition and processing approaches, and appropriate interpretations. This will speed up the synergetic application of multiple imaging modalities to basic and clinical neuroscience research in animals and humans. All training faculty have an exceptional track record of effective interdisciplinary training and cooperative research. The materials developed in this Training Program will be distributed through the web.