Visual Sciences Center of Biomedical Research Excellence

项目总结/摘要 视觉科学CoBRE（VS-CoBRE）的首要目标是优化基础架构和指导， 支持围绕视觉科学的可持续，多学科和协作研究环境在西弗吉尼亚大学。 VS-CoBRE的建立将加强科学界对理解的关注 这些过程对视觉健康至关重要，其长期目标是促进新的方法， 预防和治疗不成比例地影响阿巴拉契亚人口的致盲疾病。西 弗吉尼亚州的视力残疾率在全国排名第二，预计到2050年发病率将翻一番。 我们将通过完成以下目标来实现我们的目标：目标1，支持项目领导人（PL）实现 独立的校外资助;目标2，通过以下方式促进对视觉系统的基本理解 目标3，促进采取综合、多学科的办法， 有影响力的视觉科学研究;目标4：实施严格的战略，评估 VS-CoBRE致力于促进视觉科学卓越中心的发展。以我们现有的实力 和研究基础设施网络，再加上本VS-CoBRE中提出的倡议，包括指导 在我们的四个有前途的初级PL中，我们有能力实现我们的目标。建立一个 卓越提供了一个场所，整合整个校园的努力，包括活动支持的NIGMS 包括WV CTSI和其他CoBREs，眼科和视觉系的临床企业， 科学，并在生物化学，神经科学，生物学， 和生物医学工程的课程VS-CoBRE将围绕一个共同的视觉科学家 主题，改善智力环境，培养交叉合作。当调查人员 建议通过获得R 01等效奖励来获得此赠款的支持， VS-CoBRE招募更多的年轻科学家，他们的工作涉及视觉科学。核心设施 由CoBRE支持的研究基础设施也将使我们的研究人员能够产生研究结果 这将转化为患者，使我们朝着减轻视力障碍负担的最终目标前进， 及其在阿巴拉契亚地区、全国和全世界的合并症。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The overarching goal of the Visual Sciences CoBRE (VS-CoBRE) is to optimize infrastructure and mentoring to support a sustainable, multidisciplinary, and collaborative research environment at WVU around visual sciences. The establishment of the VS-CoBRE will strengthen the scientific community focused on understanding processes that are essential to visual health with the long-term goal of contributing to novel approaches for prevention and treatment of blinding diseases that disproportionately affect Appalachia's population. West Virginia has the 2nd highest rate of visual disability in the nation, and the incidence is projected to double by 2050. We will achieve our goals by completing the following aims: Aim1, Support Project Leaders (PLs) to achieve independent extramural funding; Aim 2, Promote the fundamental understanding of the visual system through optimizing relevant technical infrastructure; Aim 3, Promote a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to impactful visual sciences research; and Aim 4: Implement a rigorous strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of the VS-CoBRE towards promoting a robust center of excellence in visual sciences. With our existing strengths and research infrastructure network, coupled with the initiatives proposed in this VS-CoBRE, including mentoring of our four-promising junior PLs, we are well-positioned to achieve our goal. The creation of a center of excellence provides a venue for integrating efforts across the campus, including activities supported by NIGMS including the WV CTSI and other CoBREs, the clinical enterprise in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and investigations led by basic biologists in the Departments of Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Biology, and the program in Biomedical Engineering. The VS-CoBRE will coalesce vision scientists around a common theme, enhance the intellectual environment, and cultivate cross collaborations. When the investigators proposed for support by this grant achieve independence by obtaining an R01-equivalent award, we will leverage the VS-CoBRE to recruit additional junior scientists whose work pertains to visual sciences. The core facilities and research infrastructure supported by the CoBRE will also allow our investigators to produce research results that will translate to patients, moving us toward our ultimate goal of reducing the burden of visual impairment and its comorbidities in the Appalachian region, throughout the nation, and worldwide.