Autism Research Program

描述(由申请人提供)：在NIMH理事会关于变革性神经科学和精神疾病的工作组报告(www.nih.nimh.gov-2008--由Pat Levitt共同主持)中，注意到发现疾病病因的研究议程的范围很广--从单个基因到细胞到神经系统，最后到他们生活的环境中的患者。显然，将来自许多学科和技术的相关元素结合在一起来处理这些问题，将需要研究人员之间建立新的联盟。这一直是一个挑战，这在很大程度上是由于研究方法的学科之间的根本差异。这反过来又阻碍了合作和翻译。Zilkha神经遗传学研究所(ZNI)和南加州大学凯克医学院(KSOM)的基因组精神病学中心(CGP)共同致力于在南加州大学自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的研究中发挥真正的作用。这种合作之所以可能，是因为KSOM新招聘的领导层，Pat Levitt担任ZNI主任，Carlos Pato担任精神病学和行为科学系主任和CGP创始主任。P30资助将使现在有可能投资于自闭症相互依赖的研究和培训活动，这将增强我们将基础科学信息转化为自闭症实践的能力，并作为南加州大学其他精神健康障碍项目建设的典范。因此，这个P30应用程序是在南加州大学启动自闭症研究计划的请求。我们建议招聘两名新的终身教职跟踪初级教员：第一名将是一名个人，他的主要愿景是在南加州大学、KSOM和CHLA校园推进ASD的人类遗传和基因X环境研究。第二个人的主要愿景是推进ASD的遗传和环境流行病学研究，利用KSOM在预防医学方面的长期优势，以及通过ZNI和CGP对基于大脑的疾病的新重视。机构资金将可用于抵消其他启动成本，包括我们的全额承诺，在P30支持之外，为每位教员提供至少两年的额外资源。 公共卫生相关性：该计划将致力于在南加州大学工程学、电影艺术、洛杉矶儿童医院和KSOM校园内组织一个丰富的科学家社区，他们最近积极参与ASD的特征和干预研究。招聘这些人员需要P30的资金，P30支持技术工资、教职员工工资和设备费用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the NIMH Council Work Group Report on Transformational Neuroscience and Mental Illness (www.nih.nimh.gov - 2008 - co-chaired by Pat Levitt), it was noted that the scope of the research agenda to discover disease etiologies was vast-from individual genes to cells to neural systems and finally to patients in the contexts in which they live. Clearly, bringing together the relevant elements from many disciplines and technologies to bear on these questions will require new alliances among researchers. This is always a challenge, due in large part to fundamental differences between disciplines in research approaches. This, in turn, hinders collaboration and translation. The Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute (ZNI) and the Center for Genomic Psychiatry (CGP) at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of the University of Southern California (USC) together are positioned to make a real difference in the investigation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at USC. This collaboration is possible because of newly recruited leadership at KSOM, Pat Levitt as Director of the ZNI and Carlos Pato as Chair of the Dept Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and founding Director of the CGP. P30 funding will make it possible to invest now in interdependent research and training activities in ASD, which will enhance our ability to translate fundamental scientific Information into practice in ASD, and serve as a model for program building in other mental health disorders at USC. Thus, this P30 application is a request to jump-start the Autism Research Program at USC. We propose to recruit two new tenure track junior faculty members: The first will be an individual whose main vision is to advance human genetic and gene X environment studies in ASD across the USC, KSOM and CHLA campuses. The second will be an individual whose main vision is to advance genetic and environmental epidemiological studies in ASD, taking advantage of the KSOM long-standing strengths in preventive medicine and the new emphasis on brain-based disorders through the ZNI and CGP. Institutional funds will be available to offset other start-up costs, including our full commitment for at least two additional years of resources for each faculty member beyond the P30 support. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This program will work to organize a rich community of scientists across the USC campus in Engineering, Cinematic Arts, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the KSOM who recently have become active in research addressing characterization and interventions in ASD. The funds from the P30 are required to recruit these individuals, with the P30 supporting costs for technical salaries, faculty salaries and equipment.