Alliance for Research Training in Neuroscience

描述（由申请人提供）：这一竞争性更新申请要求继续资助Meharry/Vanderbilt联盟神经科学培训计划，这是一个旨在增加神经科学研究多样性的博士后研究培训项目。此外，政府还为一个针对少数族裔的短期夏季研究项目寻求资金，该项目将成为招募优秀候选人的渠道。梅哈里/范德比尔特联盟培训项目在神经科学领域的少数族裔代表性方面具有独特的优势，因为它建立在一所历史悠久的黑人大学和一所研究密集型机构之间的正式联盟之上。优势包括两所院校的紧密联系、教师互动的悠久历史、杰出的项目领导、两所院校高层管理人员的卓越承诺和支持，以及优秀学员的书面证据。培训补助金的续期对联盟培训计划的持续成功至关重要，该计划已在两所机构进行了变革，并促进了合作研究计划和共享课程的建立。目前的拨款旨在继续支持联盟机构的八(8)名博士前学员，并提出一个结构化的，有指导的博士后项目（4名博士后学员），与NIMH校内项目合作，提供世界一流的转化神经科学教师和设施。博士后培训的重点是毕业后的前两年，这是一个关键的过渡时期，很多少数民族的人会改变职业道路或辍学。博士预科课程的特点是跨学科课程结合了最先进的研究机会，而博士后课程提供了丰富的研究经验，并辅以必要的教学培训。Meharry和Vanderbilt的培训教师联合开发了一门新的课程，疾病神经生物学，这是博士前和博士后学员的必修课，是加深学生对疾病神经生物学理解的焦点，从分子到疾病病理学，并将这种理解扩展到包括每种疾病固有的健康差异。教学培训和研究机会的结合将为我们的毕业生在基础-转化-临床连续体的研究和研究培训方面的未来合作做好准备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This competing renewal application requests continued funding of the Meharry/Vanderbilt Alliance Training Program in Neuroscience, a linked predoctoral-postdoctoral program for research training with the goal to increase diversity in neuroscience research. Funds are also sought for a short term summer research program for underrepresented minorities, which serves as a pipeline for recruitment of strong candidates. The Meharry/Vanderbilt Alliance Training Program is uniquely equipped to make a difference in minority representation in neuroscience because it builds on a formal alliance between a historically black university and a research-intensive institution. Advantages include the close proximity of the two institutions, the long history of faculty interactions, outstanding program leadership, the excellent commitment and support by top administrators at both institutions, and documented evidence of outstanding trainees. Renewal of this training grant is crucial to continued success of the Alliance training program, which has been transforming at both institutions and has promoted the establishment of collaborative research programs and shared courses. The present grant seeks continued support for eight (8) predoctoral trainees at the alliance institutions, and also proposes a structured, mentored postdoctoral program (4 postdoctoral trainees), partnering with the NIMH Intramural Program to offer world-class faculty and facilities in translational neuroscience. Postdoctoral training focuses on the first two years post-graduation, a critical period of transition when a significant number of minority individuals change career paths or drop out. The predoctoral program is characterized by an interdisciplinary curriculum combined with state-of-the-art research opportunities, while the postdoctoral program offers an intense research experience, supplemented by didactic training as needed. The training faculty at Meharry and Vanderbilt have joined together to develop a new course, Neurobiology of Disease, which is required for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and serves as a focal point for deepening students' understanding of the neurobiology of diseases, from molecules to the disease pathology, and to extend that understanding to include the health disparities inherent in each disease. The combination of didactic training and research opportunities will prepare our graduates for future collaborations in research and research training along the basic-translational-clinical continuum.