COBRE Phase 2: Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico

波多黎各大学（UPR）医学科学校区建议维持和 扩展其COBRE神经可塑性中心。中心第二阶段的运作将 显著加强该机构的研究基础设施，并将影响生物医学 整个岛上的调查。COBRE神经可塑性中心的具体目标 在波多黎各大学是：1）促进初级研究人员的发展， 从事具有直接生物医学意义的项目的有竞争力的研究人员。第一阶段 强化辅导计划将进一步加强，目标是继续 发展有竞争力的研究文化; 2）维护和加强神经影像学， 根据COBRE第一阶段建立的电生理设施（NIEF）。这个多站点核心设施 提供最先进的仪器，培训和专业知识的研究社区， 波多黎各。NIEF位于分子科学研究中心（MSRC）， 一项重大的普遍定期审议基础设施投资，战略定位是加强合作， 主要的普遍定期审议校园之间的努力。MSRC还为许多机构提供服务 与IDEA生物医学研究卓越网络（INBRE）合作; 3） 支持方案活动（COBRE系列研讨会，年度波多黎各神经科学 会议，COBRE研讨会，讲习班），增加跨学科合作， 基础研究水平。预计这些活动将大大加强整个 生物医学研究基础设施，并将促进合作调查， 翻译研究项目。拟议的COBRE第二阶段计划的主要优势 包括：1）项目主任，他既是一位有成就的研究人员， NIH内部的资金和咨询活动，以及一位经验丰富的管理人员， 成功启动研究和培训计划; 2）经验丰富，有效 行政核心; 3）一支年轻、积极进取、高度敬业的早期职业团队 科学家; 4）部署新的MSRC作为集成和协作的集中中心 （5）普遍定期审议行政当局充分致力于确保 该项目波多黎各大学的COBRE神经可塑性中心正在定义 在整个普遍定期审议系统中，为基础研究和转化研究提供途径和基准。其 第二阶段将确保一个计划的持续增长和发展， 未来几十年波多黎各竞争性生物医学研究的发展轨迹。

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Medical Sciences Campus proposes to sustain and expand its COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity. The second phase of Center operation will significantly strengthen the research infrastructure of the institution and will impact biomedical investigation throughout the island. The specific aims of the COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico are: 1) Foster development of junior investigators into competitive researchers working on projects with direct biomedical significance. Our Phase I intensive mentoring program will be further strengthened with the goal of continued development of a competitive research culture; 2) Maintain and augment the NeuroImaging and Electrophysiology Facility (NIEF) established under COBRE Phase I. This multi-site core facility provides state-of-the-art instrumentation, training, and expertise to the research community of Puerto Rico. The NIEF is centered at the Molecular Sciences Research Center (MSRC) a major UPR infrastructure investment that is strategically positioned to enhance collaborative efforts between the major UPR campuses. The MSRC also serves numerous institutions associated with partnering IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE); 3) Support programmatic activities (COBRE Seminar Series, Annual Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference, COBRE Symposia, Workshops) that increase interdisciplinary collaborations at the basic research level. It is anticipated that these activities will significantly strengthen the entire biomedical research infrastructure and will stimulate collaborative investigation leading to translational research projects. The major strengths of this proposed COBRE Phase II initiative include: 1) the Program Director, who is both an accomplished researcher with extensive funding and advisory activities within the NIH and an experienced administrator with a history of successful initiation of research and training programs; 2) an experienced and effective Administrative Core; 3) a team of young, aggressive and highly committed early career scientists; 4) deployment of the new MSRC as a centralized hub for integrated and collaborative research; 5) the full commitment of the UPR Administration toward assuring the stated goals of the project. The COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity at the University of Puerto Rico is defining pathways and benchmarks for basic and translational research across the UPR system. Its second phase will ensure the sustained growth and evolution of a program that will advance the trajectory of competitive biomedical research in Puerto Rico over the next decades.