Center of Research Excellence in Natural Products Neuroscience (CORE-NPN)

描述（由申请人提供）：密西西比大学药学院（UM）的天然产物神经科学卓越研究中心（CORE-NPN）于四年前通过COBRE拨款启动，已经建立了一个多学科团队，致力于评估天然产物对中枢神经系统（CNS）的影响。该中心现在有潜力发展和维持一个创新和独立资助的研究中心，专注于治疗与神经系统相关的疾病。该中心及其学术基地药学院的教职员工已经报告了大麻素和非大麻素在体重控制、免疫系统控制、癌症治疗、接受抗肿瘤治疗的患者恶心和呕吐的控制、青光眼以及sigma受体激动剂在治疗可卡因和甲基苯丙胺滥用中的作用方面的开创性观察结果。此外，core - npn支持的研究人员通过吸引外部资金和在神经科学的主要期刊上发表文章，提高了他们的竞争力。该中心将继续为初级和中级研究人员提供一个良好的环境，通过与领先的国家中心和研究天然产物的科学家密切合作，开展基于神经系统疾病病理生理学新见解的拟议项目。为了实现建立一个创新的多学科中心的目标，专注于使用天然产物来管理神经药理学疾病，提出了以下具体目标：目标1是增强四位研究者的竞争性独立研究资金，详见他们的研究计划。此外，天然产物神经科学领域的国内外知名科学家将继续指导中心所有的基础和临床神经科学教职员工。目标二是赞助一个竞争性的小额资助项目，以推进与提案中概述的主题相关的神经科学研究。目标3是继续扩大研究资源，以开发创新的天然产物神经药理学相关项目。实现这一目标的核心设施将包括：a)获取新型植物和真菌，分离生物活性天然产物，b)生物活性次级代谢物的化学阐明和衍生物的合成，c)鉴定生物活性天然产物的体外分析，d)评估生物活性天然产物的行为研究的体内分析。目标4是通过尖端技术的培训，继续师资队伍的发展和新的神经科学研究者的成长，并为中心教师指导的本科生和研究生提供神经科学方面的研究机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Center of Research Excellence in Natural Products Neuroscience (CORE-NPN) at The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy (UM), initiated four years ago through a COBRE grant, has developed a multidisciplinary team committed to evaluating the effects of natural products on the central nervous system (CNS). The Center now has the potential to develop and sustain an innovative and independently funded research center focused on treating disorders associated with the nervous system. Faculty in the Center and its academic home, the School of Pharmacy, have already reported groundbreaking observations on the roles of cannabinoids and non-cannabinoids in the etiology of weight control, the control of the immune system, treatment of cancer, control of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving anti-neoplastic treatment, glaucoma, and the development of sigma receptor agonists in the treatment of cocaine and methamphetamine abuse. Also, CORE-NPN-supported investigators have increased their competitiveness by attracting extramural funds and publishing in leading journals of neuroscience. The Center will continue to provide an excellent environment for junior and mid-level investigators by working in close collaboration with leading national centers and scientists studying natural products to carry out the proposed projects that build on these novel insights into the pathophysiology of nervous system disorders. To achieve the goal of establishing an innovative and multidisciplinary Center focused on the use of natural products to manage neuropharmacologic disorders, the following Specific Aims are proposed: Aim 1 is to enhance the competitive independent research funding of four investigators, as detailed in their research proposals. In addition, external and internal renowned scientists in natural products neuroscience will continue to mentor all Center faculty members in basic and clinical neuroscience. Aim 2 is to sponsor a competitive small grant program that advances research in neuroscience related to the themes outlined in the proposal. Aim 3 is to continue the expansion of research resources for the development of innovative natural product neuropharmacology - related projects. Core facilities to accomplish this will include: a) acquisition of novel plants and fungi and isolation of biologically active natural products, b) chemical elucidation of the biologically active secondary metabolites and synthesis of derivatives, c) in vitro assays to identify biologically active natural products, and d) in vivo assays to evaluate behavioral studies of the biologically active natural products. Aim 4 is to continue faculty development and growth of new neuroscience investigators through training in cutting-edge technologies and to promote research opportunities in neuroscience for undergraduate and graduate students being mentored by Center faculty.