Interdisciplinary center of excellence for the study of pain and sensory function

描述(申请人提供)：尽管研究大大增加了我们对急性、炎症和神经病理性疼痛的基本机制的了解，但对从急性PAI到慢性PAI的转变过程知之甚少。Cobre应用程序的目标是开发一个生物医学研究卓越中心，该中心将对科学理解慢性PIN和感觉功能的神经生物学做出重大贡献，促进新疗法的发现和开发。拟议中的研究中心将围绕新英格兰大学(UNE)的神经科学家、药理学家和化学家的核心团队建立，他们的研究重点是了解疼痛的神经生物学。科布雷将为初级调查员提供职业发展计划、指导和研究基础设施，以促进获得独立调查员的地位。此外，新教师的招聘是为了加强我们与药学院合作的药物化学能力。在建立化学小组方面，科布雷的努力与将创新化学作为疼痛基础知识和治疗之间的桥梁的理念相一致。这些努力将为中心科学家提供新的化合物，这些化合物可用作探索慢性疼痛的病理生理学的宝贵工具，并最终可能作为在生物制药环境中发展的伙伴关系的临床候选药物。具体目标1将增加UNE神经科学研究人员的数量，以创造维持一个充满活力和竞争力的研究中心所需的研究人员的临界数量。这一目标将通过培养四名尚未接受R01或可比研究项目资助的现有UNE初级教员的疼痛相关研究计划来实现。此外，我们还将招聘和聘用另外三名研究员，他们的研究项目将补充现有教职员工的研究项目。具体目标2将扩大UNE的神经科学研究基础设施，提供进入核心设施的通道，使研究人员能够对慢性疼痛的发展过程中涉及的神经生物学过程进行尖端研究。这一目标将通过翻新实验室空间、购买核心行为、成像和组织学设备以及为关键支助人员提供资金来实现。完成这些目标将发展一个由初级研究人员组成的多学科小组的研究生涯，并建立组成具有竞争力的研究中心所需的核心设施和设备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although research has vastly increased our knowledge regarding the basic mechanisms of acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain, relatively little is known about the processes involved in the transition from acute to chronic pai. The goal of this COBRE application is to develop a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence that will significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of chronic pin and sensory function, facilitating the discovery and development of novel therapies. The proposed research center will build around a core group of neuroscientists, pharmacologists and chemists at the University of New England (UNE) whose research is focused on understanding the neurobiology of pain. The COBRE will provide the junior investigators with a career development plan, mentorship, and research infrastructure that will facilitate gaining independent investigator status. Furthermore, new faculty recruitment is designed to strengthen our medicinal chemistry capabilities in collaboration with the College of Pharmacy. In building the chemistry group, the efforts in this COBRE are consistent with the concept of bringing innovative chemistry as a bridge between basic knowledge of pain and therapy. These efforts will provide Center scientists with novel compounds that can be used as valuable tools to explore the pathophysiology of chronic pain and ultimately may be advanced as clinical candidates in partnerships developed within the biopharmaceutical setting. Specific Aim 1 will increase the number of neuroscience investigators at UNE to create a critical mass of researchers necessary to sustain a vibrant and competitive research center. This Aim will be accomplished by fostering the pain related research programs of four current UNE junior faculty members who have not received R01 or comparable Research Project Grant support. In addition, we will recruit and hire an additional three investigators whose research programs will complement those of the existing faculty. Specific Aim 2 will expand neuroscience research infrastructure at UNE, providing access to core facilities that allow investigators to carry out cutting edge research on the neurobiological processes involved in the development of chronic pain. This Aim will be accomplished through the renovation of laboratory space, the purchase of core behavioral, imaging and histology equipment, and funding of key support personnel. Completion of these Aims will develop the research careers of a multidisciplinary group of junior investigators, and establish the core facilities and equipment necessary to constitute a competitive research center.