RII Track 1: West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT)

神经系统结构和功能的基本灵活性，也就是广为人知的神经可塑性，是神经系统发育的基础，也是神经系统在生物体面临变化时如何适应的基础。“西弗吉尼亚州功能神经科学和转录学网络”(WV-NFNT)项目旨在建立神经科学和数据科学方面的人力和物质基础设施能力。这个项目将研究神经系统在发育过程中和对刺激做出反应的能力，围绕两个主题：1)发育和成年期间的电路可塑性；2)突触结构和由于功能改变而产生的可塑性。WV-NFNT将通过实施具体的教育和劳动力发展活动来扩大神经科学和数据科学领域工作人员的能力和多样性，这些活动将吸引学生，特别是农村的第一代大学生，以及来自传统上代表性不足的其他群体的学生参与这些研究领域。来自全州四所机构的神经科学家和生物信息学家之间的新合作将使西弗吉尼亚州成为神经科学研究中心。该项目将由高等教育政策委员会与四所机构合作管理：马歇尔大学、谢泼德大学、西弗吉尼亚大学和西弗吉尼亚州立大学。WV-NFNT项目将为最具影响力的神经科学研究领域之一--回路和突触可塑性--做出贡献。尽管神经可塑性很重要，但人们并不完全了解大脑变化的机制。WV-NFNT是专门设计用于使用先进的技术，包括受激发射耗竭(STED)显微镜和单细胞和/或空间转录，以了解各种动物模型中电路、神经元、胶质细胞和突触的神经可塑性。以高分辨率阐明结构-功能关系的新方法正在推进检查突触、细胞和神经回路如何被控制在直到最近才可能达到的空间细节水平的能力。WV-NFNT项目将致力于这些问题的研究人员聚集在一起，并提供了基础设施来解决神经功能知识中的关键差距。该项目将扩大西弗吉尼亚州的神经科学和生物信息学社区，该项目的很大一部分研究部分将由研究生和本科生进行。对神经科学和数据科学研究实习生的正式培训和指导，加上实习机会，将有助于实现让西弗吉尼亚州人进入有竞争力的研究生课程或在STEM行业就业的目标。WV-NFNT还将通过实施特定的教育和劳动力发展活动来扩大神经科学和数据科学领域工作人员的能力和多样性，这些活动将在整个职业生涯中吸引学员-特别是农村的第一代大学生，以及来自STEM传统上代表性较低的其他群体的学员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The underlying flexibility in nervous system structure and function, broadly known as neural plasticity, is the basis for nervous system development and how the nervous system can adapt when organisms are confronted by change. The "West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics" (WV-NFNT) project seeks to build human and physical infrastructure capacity in neuroscience and data science. This project will examine the ability of the nervous system to change during development and in response to stimuli along two themes: 1) circuit plasticity during development and adulthood; and 2) synaptic structure and plasticity as a result of altered function. WV-NFNT will expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and data science by implementing specific education and workforce development activities that will engage students, especially rural, first-generation college students, and those from other groups traditionally underrepresented, in these research areas. New collaborations among neuroscientists and bio-informaticists from four institutions across the state will position West Virginia to be a center for neuroscience research. The project will be administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission in collaboration with four institutions: Marshall University, Shepherd University, West Virginia University, and West Virginia State University.The WV-NFNT project will contribute to one of the most impactful neuroscience research areas – circuit and synaptic plasticity. Despite the importance of neural plasticity, the mechanisms by which the brain changes are not fully understood. WV-NFNT is specifically designed to use advanced techniques including stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and single-cell and/or spatial transcriptomics to understand neural plasticity of circuits, neurons, glia, and synapses in various animal models. New methodologies to elucidate structure-function relationships at high resolution are advancing the ability to examine how synapses, cells, and neural circuits are controlled at a level of spatial detail not possible until recently. The WV-NFNT project brings together researchers who work on these questions and provides the infrastructure to address key gaps in knowledge about neural function. The project will grow the neuroscience and bioinformatics community in West Virginia, and a significant portion of the research component of this project will be conducted by graduate and undergraduate trainees. Formalized training and mentorship of trainees in neuroscience and data science research, coupled with access to internships, will contribute to the goal of placing West Virginians in competitive post-graduate programs or employment in STEM industries. WV-NFNT will also expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and data science by implementing specific education and workforce development activities that will engage trainees across the career continuum—especially rural, first-generation college students, and those from other groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.