Neuroscience Research, Training and Professional Development in Puerto Rico

描述(由申请者提供)：我们的主要目标是通过在波多黎各创建一个强大的神经科学中心来促进多样性，该中心将通过一个整合研究、研究生教育、本科生参与和职业指导的项目培养拉美裔美国神经科学家。中央加勒比大学(UCC)的神经科学研究在过去十年中有了显著的增长，我们现在有能力将UCC的神经科学提升到一个新的水平，即在基础研究方面继续保持卓越，在翻译研究方面取得增长，与大陆顶尖大学合作，对来自少数族裔群体的学生进行多学科培训，并促进这些人的职业发展。这项工作的核心将是一个最先进的神经科学研究所 它将基础研究和翻译研究的高绩效与教育项目和对学生和年轻教师的持续指导结合在一起。我们计划的具体目标是：1)增加波多黎各神经科学研究的多样性和发展卓越，2)为拉美裔美国人和通常来自弱势背景的教职员工、研究生、医学生和本科生提供一流的神经科学研究和职业发展指导培训。我们的研究计划专注于神经元可塑性和对中风的神经保护机制，从而在神经元机制的基础研究和翻译研究之间建立了一座桥梁。拟议的研究计划创建了一个多大学跨学科的神经科学家网络，将促进指导关系，放大科学协同效应，同时拓宽小组每个成员的研究重点，并架起基础研究和翻译研究的桥梁。在以跨学科、协作研究网络和研究计划为基础的基础上，通过基础和翻译神经科学解决与健康相关的问题，我们将制定一个全面的培训和指导计划，为教师和学生提供服务。通过在波多黎各岛上创建一个强大而高效的神经科学培训和指导中心，为拉美裔美国人服务，拟议中的计划有可能显著促进美国劳动力的多样性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our major goal is to advance diversity by creating a strong neuroscience center in Puerto Rico that will develop Hispanic American neuroscientists through a program that integrates research, graduate education, undergraduate engagement, and career guidance. Neuroscience research at Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC) has grown significantly over the last decade, and we are now are positioned to bring neuroscience at UCC to the next level, one defined by continued excellence in basic research, growth in translational research, collaborations with top mainland universities, multidisciplinary training o students from underrepresented minority groups, and fostering professional development in these individuals. At the core of this effort will be a state-of-the-art Institute for Neuroscience that integrates high performance in basic and translational research with educational programs and ongoing mentoring of students and young faculty. The specific objectives of our program are to: 1) increase diversity and develop excellence in neuroscience research in Puerto Rico, and 2) provide first-rate training in neuroscience research and career development guidance for faculty, graduate students, medical students, and undergraduates that are Hispanic Americans and often from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our research program is focused on the mechanisms of neuronal plasticity and neuroprotection against stroke, thus creating a bridge between basic and translational research on neuronal mechanisms. The proposed research program creates a multi-university cross-disciplinary network of neuroscientists that will facilitae mentoring relationships, amplify scientific synergism, and at the same time broaden the research focus of every member of the group as well as bridge basic and translational research. Building on a foundation grounded in an interdisciplinary, collaborative research network and research program addressing health-related problems through basic and translational neuroscience, we will develop a comprehensive training and mentoring program that serves both faculty and students. By creating a strong and efficient training and mentoring center in neuroscience on the Island of Puerto Rico that serves Hispanic Americans, the proposed program has the potential to significantly promote workforce diversity in the U.S.