Developing Neuroendocrine Brain, Androgen, and Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling

简介（申请人提供）：候选人-钟博士是一名研究助理，对类固醇激素，类固醇受体和生长因子在大脑发育中的作用有深入的了解。他过去的研究重点是涉及大脑性别分化的细胞和分子机制。他的近期目标是扩展他的学术和专业技能，以便通过校外资助制定他的独立转化研究计划，研究中枢神经系统形态发生背后的类固醇激素依赖的生长因子表达。K99/R00提案是这一追求的一个组成部分。职业发展计划-钟博士建议的培训活动包括：1)获得与本提案相关的新研究技术，2)参加旨在促进与导师定期互动的结构化论坛，并在地方和国家科学会议上传播他的研究数据，3)指导和培训本科生和研究生进行独立研究项目。环境-所建议的培训活动的研究环境是非常适合的。主要发起人蔡博士在神经内分泌学领域有着良好的声誉，并获得校外资助，在成功指导本科生，研究生和博士后方面有着出色的记录。研究-这些研究基于以下假设：睾酮通过诱导成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF） 8/FGF受体信号传导调节脑神经内分泌的发育。这些研究探讨了睾丸激素如何调节胚胎大脑中FGF8/FGF受体的表达，并探讨了FGF8缺乏对大脑发育的影响。对这一假设的检验将对胚胎神经内分泌脑是如何以睾酮依赖的方式组织的产生新的见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Candidate - Dr. Chung is a research associate with in depth knowledge about the role of steroid hormones, steroid receptors and growth factors during brain development. His past research was focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the sexual differentiation of the brain. His immediate goal is to extend his academic and professional skills in order to enact his independent translational research program studying steroid hormone-dependent growth factor expression underlying CNS morphogenesis through extra-mural funding. This proposed K99/R00 proposal forms an integral part in this pursuit. Career development plan - Dr. Chung's proposed training activities consist of: 1) acquiring new research techniques associated with this proposal, 2) attend structured forums designed to promote periodic interactions with his mentors and disseminate his research data at local and national scientific meetings, 3) mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students in performing independent research projects. Environment - The research environment for the proposed training activities is well-suited. The primary sponsor, Dr. Tsai, is well-established in the field of neuroendocrinology with extramural funding and has an excellent record in the successful mentoring of undergraduates, graduates and postdoctoral fellows. Research - The studies are based on the hypothesis: Testosterone regulates the development of the neuroendocrine brain via the induction of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8/FGF receptor signaling. These studies examine how testosterone regulates FGF8/FGF receptor expression in the embryo brain, and investigate the consequences of FGF8 deficiency on brain development. Examination of this hypothesis will result in new insights about how the embryonic neuroendocrine brain is organized in a testosterone-dependent fashion. PUBLIC RELEVANCE: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling has been implicated in the Kallmann syndrome, a human disease characterized by hypogonadotropic and hypogonadism associated with anosmia. Therefore, novel insights in how FGF expression is regulated by testosterone may help us better understand the mechanisms involved in the onset of Kallmann syndrome.