SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOL

本提案是对RFA：NS-99-0001《少数民族机构专门神经科学研究计划(SNRP)》的回应。波多黎各大学实际上是百分之百的少数民族，分布在波多黎各联邦的11个校区。我们申请这个SNRP项目的目的是，通过支持三名刚刚开始职业生涯的波多黎各年轻神经科学家，它将在加强岛上的神经科学研究和教学方面发挥重要作用。这三家公司都将与经验丰富、资金雄厚的美国主要研究型大学的神经学家合作。神经生物学研究所的路易斯·桑塔纳将与佛蒙特州大学的马克·纳尔逊合作，里约皮德拉斯校区生物系的桑德拉·佩纳将与加州大学洛杉矶分校的阿尔西诺·席尔瓦合作，医学院生理系的豪尔赫·米兰达将与路易斯维尔大学的斯科特·惠特莫尔合作。我们预计，这三名科学家将在波多黎各形成竞争激烈的神经科学社区的核心方面发挥重要作用，该社区将包括本科生、研究生和研究生，以及将在岛上生活和工作的更高级的研究人员。该计划将由神经生物学研究所所长艾伦·塞尔弗斯顿博士指导，他之前曾指导过大型计划项目拨款。我们认为这个项目是一个难得的机会，可以“启动”大学或波多黎各的主流神经科学研究，并向学生和普通民众展示当代脑研究的兴奋。

This proposal is in response to RFA: NS-99-0001 entitled Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs (SNRP) at Minority Institutions. The University of Puerto Rico is virtually a one hundred percent Minority Instituted distributed among eleven campuses throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Our intention in applying for this SNRP programs is that it will play a major role in the strengthening of Neuroscience research and teaching on the island by supporting three promising young Puerto Rican Neuroscientists who are at the beginning of their careers. All three will collaborate with experienced, well-funded neuroscientists at major research universities in the United States. Luis Santana from the Institute of Neurobiology will collaborate with Mark Nelson from the University of Vermont, Sandra Pena of the Biology Department on the Rio Piedras Campus will collaborate with Alcino Silva of UCLA and Jorge Miranda from the Physiology Department of the Medical School will collaborate with Scoot Whittemore from the University of Louisville. We anticipate these three scientists will play a major role in forming the nucleus of a competitive neuroscience community in Puerto Rico that will include undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students as well as more advanced researchers who will live and work on the island. The program will be directed by Dr. Allen Selverston, the Director of the Institute of Neurobiology who has directed large Program Project Grants previously. We view this program as a rare opportunity to "jump start" mainstream Neuroscience research at the University or Puerto Rico and a chance to demonstrate the excitement of contemporary brain research to students and general population alike.