Center of Research Excellence in Natural Products Neuro*

描述（由申请人提供）： 天然产品的使用，特别是以膳食补充剂的形式，在美国急剧增加。然而，生物医学在这一领域的研究一直是有限的，相对不集中的许多天然产物的成分是生物活性的，并声称具有健康促进作用。然而，往往缺乏可靠的科学数据，使人们对这些产品的安全性和有效性产生怀疑。随着天然产物使用的增加，这一领域对高质量的基础和机制研究的需求日益增加。为了满足这一需求，密西西比大学提议建立一个天然产品神经科学卓越研究中心（CORE-NPN）。该中心将把这所大学在天然产物研究方面的现有力量与迅速发展的神经科学界结合起来。该提案的主要目标是发展和维持一个多学科研究中心，重点是天然产品的精神活性。为了实现这一目标，本提案的具体目标是：1）发展在天然产物神经科学研究兴趣的初级教师的职业生涯，2）提供一个研究基础设施，提高与该中心相关的所有研究人员竞争校外资金的能力，以及3）赞助教育和推广活动，增强和促进该中心的研究环境。预计天然产品神经科学卓越研究中心的建立将使密西西比大学的研究人员能够对天然产品使用的健康相关后果进行重要研究，同时提高中心研究人员的职业发展和研究竞争力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The use of natural products, particularly in the form of dietary supplements, has dramatically increased in the United States. However, biomedical research in this area has been limited and relatively unfocused Many constituents of natural products are bioactive and purported to possess health promoting effects. However, sound scientific data are often lacking, calling into question the safety and efficacy of these products. With the rising use of natural products, there is an increasing need for high quality basic and mechanistic research in this area. To address this need, the University of Mississippi proposes to establish a Center of Research Excellence in Natural Products Neuroscience (CORE-NPN). The center will bring together the existing strength at this university in natural products research with a rapidly developing neuroscience community. The primary goal of this proposal is to develop and sustain a multidisciplinary research center that focuses on the psychoactive properties of natural products. To achieve this goal, the specific aims of this proposal are to: 1) develop the careers of junior faculty with research interests in natural products neuroscience, 2) provide a research infrastructure that increases the ability of all investigators associated with the center to compete for extramural funding, and 3) sponsor educational and outreach activities that enhance and promote the research environment of the center. It is anticipated that the establishment of a Center of Research Excellence in Natural Products Neuroscience will allow investigators at the University of Mississippi to conduct vital research on the health-related consequences on natural product use, while enhancing the career development and research competitiveness of center investigators.