CENTER FOR MOLECULAR & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience (CMBN) was established in 1990 with the purpose of promoting neuroscience research in Puerto Rico. Organized as an interinstitutional association of neuroscientists with headquarters at the UCC, the CMBN is currently formed by 16 scientists from four Puerto Rican universities, as well as by associate and student members. The CMBN regular members have over 25 funded research projects addressing issues ranging from the basic mechanism of cocaine addiction, excitotoxicity and neuroprotection, to ion channel function and signal transduction pathways. Many collaborations with colleagues from main-stream universities are in place and this has proven successful in terms of publications and methodology transfer. The current proposal aimed to increase collaborations by developing a Scientific Exchange Program. This Scientific Exchange Program impacted four major areas i) new approaches to scientific problems; ii) formation of long-term scientific/personal bonds; iii) published papers and iv) collaborative research grants submissions. The current plan for the CMBN included continuing and/or developing two core facilities, a Neuronal/Glial Facility (NGF) and the previously funded Behavioral Testing Facility (BTF). The NGF has a single technician dedicated to providing neuronal and glial cultures to CMBN investigators. The development of this center has allowed investigators who did not have prior experience in these techniques to pursue research utilizing these model systems. The BTF continues to provide facilities and assistance to the research community at UCC by providing expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of behavioral experiments.