RECRUITING CORE

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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 selection of the five recruiting packages for this application was an exacting and laborious process. Each of the program heads made a half-day presentation to the steering committee of the present COBRE grant. Drs. Tang, Floyd, Harley, Gorbsky and Kincade argued for a position in their programs. After institutional resources, space and direction was approved, descriptions of the recruits were solicited. We endeavored to recruit scientists jointly whenever possible, as illustrated by the Neuroimmunologist being recruited by the Programs in FRBA/A&I, and the Molecular Biologist being recruited by the Programs in MCDB/I&C (see Recruiting Core, this application). Such joint recruits act to integrate research in individual Programs, serving as conduits between them. Integration of this kind strengthens the researcher by placing him/her in dual research environments, the Programs involved, and the institution as a whole. Importantly, this integration plays a vital role in allowing us to assemble diverse teams of researchers to target complex goals, as illustrated by our emerging Neuroscience Initiative and recent successful U19 award. In each instance, we have provided within the application the justification for the recruit, who will mentor the recruit, and the exact plans for the recruit within our organizational framework. We have also taken heed of the current guidelines that allow at least some allocation of resources to others in an institution not directly connected to the narrow focus of the COBRE program under review. As such, following with our long-range strategic plan to add to our faculty in neuroscience and cell, molecular and developmental biology, we are using four of the recruiting packages to support those efforts. 1) Joint Appointment for a Neuro-immunologist in Free Radical Biology and Aging Program and the Arthritis and Immunology Research Program: OMRF has an outstanding program in Free Radical Biology and Aging. The current six members of the program focus effort on the neuroinflammation that accompanies Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We believe expanding this program by four investigators will bring us to a critical mass in this arena. OMRF also has an outstanding program in Arthritis and Immunology (Drs. James, Harley, Reichlin, Farris, Centola, etc). We have determined that a joint recruit between these two programs would benefit both, and foster communication between two of our highly successful research efforts. The two Programs have determined that such a recruit should be a neuro-immunologist, and it is to support this recruit that we are requesting funds. The full justification for the recruit is found within. Dr. Robert Floyd, head of FRBA, and Dr. Judith James of AI will mentor this recruit. Dr. Kenneth Hensley will serve as junior mentor. Dr. Hensley has been on our faculty for five years, has an R01, and is one of our most cited young investigators. The Steering Committee believes he is ready for this role. We will also enlist the expertise of Dr. Rheal Towner and Dr. Mark Coggeshall (head of the Cell Signaling Core on this application). 2) Addition to the Immunobiology and Cancer Program: Dr. Paul Kincade heads OMRF's Immunobiology and Cancer program. His two recruits over the last seven years, Drs. Mark Coggeshall and Xiao Hong Sun, are among the best additions to our staff in the last decade. Both have successfully transitioned their laboratories to OMRF, both have successfully competed on a national level for funds (six R01s between them), and both have been promoted to full member status. The five-person program (with Drs. Webb and Thompson) deserves an additional colleague. They have outlined in the section on recruiting cores the logic for their choices and the people they will be recruiting. Indeed, this search is well under way. Depending on the recruit, this mentee will be mentored by any member of this distinguished faculty. Likely, Dr. Kincade will take the senior mentorship role and Dr. Sun a junior mentor role. 3) Addition to the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology Research Program: A year ago, OMRF recruited Dr. Gary Gorbsky as the new head of MCDB. He is in the process of recruiting new faculty for his program. The major emphasis of the early recruiting will be to add to our strength in developmental biology, especially as we have a world class mouse facility that is functioning well. We have support from the Presbyterian Health Foundation to help recruit individuals with an emphasis in genetics, and seek support from this COBRE to recruit a faculty member with a developmental biology interest, especially one who would collaborate with members of our outstanding Cardiovascular Research Program, Arthritis and Immunology Research Program, or Neuroscience Research Initiative. This recruit falls under the new guidelines for the COBRE that allow recruiting outside the major theme of the COBRE. We will be certain that this recruit is well mentored, and the recruit will have full access to our Core Facilities. This will provide a formal mechanism to include this recruit in the COBRE process. Obviously, the Steering Committee, our External Advisory Committee as well as NCRR will be approached for guidance. 4) Joint appointment to the Immunobiology and Cancer Program and the Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology Research Program: The goal of this recruitment would be to bring someone to our campus who will bridge the research interests of two of our finest programs: IC and MCDB. Here we seek to identify someone who (for example) performs studies employing genetic manipulation of the developing immune system of the mouse, perhaps on the B cell or the T cell side, as we have great depth in B and T cell development, but not at the genetic level. Such a person would fit comfortably in both programs and serve as a conduit for interaction between them. Drs. Kincade and Gorbsky have agreed to undertake this joint recruitment. 5) Addition to the Free Radical Biology and Aging Program: We seek funds to fill a major void at OMRF: a mathematical modeler (with an emphasis in neurobiology). The addition of Dr. Jose Conchello, a mathematician in our imaging group in our Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology Program has impacted our entire Institute, and we seek funds to extend this level of mathematical expertise into neurobiology. The individual who assumes this position will be collaborating with a group of experienced neuroscience researchers already in place at OMRF and OUHSC. We believe this powerful technology needs to be present on our campus and located in the FRBA program. More details are enclosed within. Mentoring someone like this will be complex, as we have no comparable talent at OMRF, however Dr. Thomas Ray, an internationally recognized researcher in the field of computer modeling is located nearby at the University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. Oklahoma. Dr. Conchello as well as Drs. Floyd and Tang should provide the senior level of mentorship we need. If needed we will bring someone here from outside the state on a regular basis to provide mentoring for the recruit.