Building Research Capacity in Neuroscience

描述(由申请者提供)：该计划的总体目标是：1.继续支持田纳西州立大学生物科学系神经科学系的生物医学研究。2.促进和扩大TSU教员与纳什维尔研究界内外研究人员的生物医学合作：a.扩大在Meharry医学院和Vanderbilt大学的研究合作；b.在TSU生物科学系和化学系发展合作并成立研究小组。3.提高生物医学研究能力和生产力，这将使台大能够建立卓越的神经科学研究中心。4.加强研究基础设施，这将支持和支持教师的生物医学研究活动。第一个目标将通过支持四名教员的生物医学研究活动和继续在第一个赠款期间建立的指导关系来实现。这四名教职员工在神经科学方面有共同的兴趣和研究培训。在第一次赠款期间，与梅哈里医学院的汤塞尔实验室形成了强有力的合作研究努力。一个真正的研究合作已经形成，这个小组作为一个研究团队发挥着作用。这一努力相当成功，并在此次续签申请中得到支持。该团队的研究实力将增加(研究技术人员；新的合作)，研究生产率将衡量其成功与否。此外，RIMI将支持所有合作关系的继续(RIMI教职员工不包括在此；MBR/SCORE教职员工具有研究密集型教师)。这些活动支持目标1、2a和3。目前，生物系和化学系之间正在开展研究合作。RIMI将尝试复制具有高水平互动的研究小组，以提高生产率。这些将涉及RIMI教员的一些MBR/SCORE教员。这一目标的实现将取决于项目主任强有力的科学领导。他执导这两个节目的事实将会促进这一点。台大教职员工将组成一个互动小组。将定期举行互动会议，交流想法和经验，促进合作，扩大小组。最终目标是组建其他研究小组。至少，在本奖项期间，将启动一个额外的研究密集小组。这些活动支持具体目标2b和3。 这项拟议的项目与生物科学系合作，将增加一名加入神经科学小组的教职员工。这位新的教员将在第三年初加入。这一增加将给生物学的研究工作带来深度和更多的关注。一名精心挑选的研究人员将加大我们的努力，将生产力水平提高到启动神经科学研究中心所需的水平(本活动支持具体目标#3)基础设施部分将翻新博斯韦尔科学综合体的一个空间，以建造和装备两个新的实验室，用于分子生物学和组织培养目的。这些设施对于在此描述的每个合作研究项目的成功是必要的。其他RIMI教员和一些MBR/SCORE教员也将使用这些设施。这些新设施将显著增加生物科学系和化学系的研究能力。两个实验室都是两个部门都感兴趣的。在生物科学中，细胞和分子生物学的研究能力是该系的重点，对最近开始的博士项目有直接的影响。在化学方面，抗癌和抗艾滋病药物研究的重点正在发展。组织培养实验室将是这些努力的一大补充。这些新设施和设备支持具体目标4。这项拟议的RIMI计划将由一个由计划主任(PD；25%)和一名主任助理(100%)组成的办公室指导和管理。PD将提供强有力的领导，以确保该计划保持在正轨上，实现研究目标，并满足该计划提供的研究教师和合作导师的需求。此外，该署有共同的研究兴趣和个人研究参与这些活动。这将为他的领导能力增加相当大的力量，并显著增加RIMI计划成功的机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objectives of this proposed program are to: 1. Continue support of biomedical research in neuroscience of faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Tennessee State University. 2. Promote and expand biomedical collaborations of TSU faculty with research faculty within the Nashville research community and beyond through: a. expansion of research collaborations at Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University and, b. development of collaborations and formation of research groups in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemistry at TSU. 3. Improve biomedical research capacity and productivity, which will permit TSU to establish a research center of excellence in neuroscience. 4. Enhance research infrastructure, which will support and undergird the biomedical research activities of faculty. The first objective will be accomplished through the support of biomedical research activities of four faculty members and the continuation of mentoring relationships established during the first grant period. The four faculty members have a common interest and research training in neuroscience. During the first grant period a strong collaborative research effort was formed with the Townsel laboratory at Meharry Medical College. A true research collaboration has been formed and the group functions as a research team. The effort was quite successful and is supported in this renewal application. The research strength of the group will be increased (research technician; new collaborations) and research productivity will measure its success. Additionally, RIMI will support the continuation of all collaborative relationships (RIMI faculty not included here; MBRS / SCORE faculty with research intensive faculty). These activities support objectives 1,2a and 3. There are currently research collaborations being developed between biology faculty and chemistry faculty. RIMI will attempt to duplicate research groups that have high levels of interaction that leads to increased productivity. These will involve some MBRS / SCORE faculty with RIMI faculty. Accomplishment of this objective will depend on strong scientific leadership by the Program Director. It will be facilitated by the fact that he directs both programs. The TSU faculty will form an interactive group. Regular interactive meetings will be held to exchange ideas and experiences, to promote collaborations, and to expand the group. The ultimate aim is to form other research groups. Minimally, one additional research intensive group will be initiated during the period of this award. These activities support specific aims 2b and 3. This proposed program, in conjunction with the Department of Biological Sciences, would add one additional faculty member who will join the neuroscience group. This new faculty member will be added at the beginning of year 3. This addition will bring depth and increased focus to the research effort in biology. A carefully chosen researcher will increase our effort to raise the productivity level to that needed to initiate a research center in neuroscience (this activity supports specific aim #3) The infrastructure component will renovate a space in Boswell Science Complex to build and equip two new laboratories for molecular biology and tissue culture purposes. These facilities are necessary for the success of each of the collaborative research projects described herein. Other RIMI faculty and some MBRS / SCORE faculty will use the facilities also. These new facilities will significantly add to the research capacity of the departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry. Both laboratories are of interest to both departments. In Biological Sciences research capacity in cellular and molecular biology is the focus of the department and has direct implications for the Ph.D. program that was recently initiated. In Chemistry a focus in anti-cancer and anti-AIDS drugs research is developing. A tissue culture laboratory will be a great addition for these efforts. These new facilities and equipment support specific aim 4. This proposed RIMI program will be directed and administered by an office consisting of the Program Director (PD; 25%) and an Assistant to the Director (100%). The PD will provide strong leadership to assure that the program stays on course, that research goals are met, and that the needs of research faculty and collaborating mentors as provided by the program are met. Moreover, the PD has a common research interest and personal research involvement in these activities. This will add considerable strength to his leadership and significantly increase chances for the success of the RIMI program.