Postdoctoral Program in Functional Neurogenomics

项目摘要 特定风险等位基因的遗传被广泛认为是许多疾病的主要影响因素， 所有的精神疾病。此外，最近的研究发现，基因表达的精确表观遗传调控 对于正常的学习和记忆过程至关重要，并且在患病的大脑中经常被破坏。然而，在这方面， 尽管最近许多神经科学家和医生的共同努力，精确的 由（epi）遗传变异和特定脑回路异常导致的分子和突触缺陷， 结果，特别是行为障碍仍然知之甚少。考虑到不断涌现的新 与神经精神疾病相关的遗传/基因组数据，有快速扩大的需要，以培训 下一代神经科学家将在不同的模型中使用现代分子遗传学方法 系统，以及尖端的分子生物信息学技术，需要连接个人 基因对正常大脑功能和疾病过程的影响。这个多学科的过度扩张的目标 在功能性神经基因组学博士后培训计划是为了支持培训管道，培养 培养具备这些技能的新调查员。此竞争性续期申请将证明 在现有的培训导师和前沿的跨学科的进步和发展 技术能力，建立在这个长期运行的计划的实质性先前的成功。我们的努力 由范德比尔特在新的神经科学领导，教师， 教育计划、技术专长和核心设施。总之，这提供了一个强大的， 严格的环境，学员获得专业知识的机会，提供遗传模型系统， 将人类遗传发现转化为构建有效的动物模型，体内分子操作， 细胞和电路使用先进的方法，并在捕捉表观遗传，生理和行为 这种操纵的后果。项目主任是Roger J. Colbran博士，教授和临时 分子生理学与生物物理学系主任。科尔布兰博士有一个长期的，资金充足的 用多学科方法研究突触可塑性的分子机制 从生化结构-功能到小鼠遗传学和行为。联合主任J.大卫斯威特博士， 最近被招募到范德比尔特担任药理学系主任，此前曾 在NIMH咨询理事会和NIMH科学理事会内部计划委员会任职。 博士Sweatt在理解学习机制方面做出了许多被高度引用的贡献 在贝勒医学院和UAB以前的职位和记忆，特别是最近的重点是 表观遗传学在认知和神经可塑性中的作用。项目领导层长期致力于 指导下一代神经科学家，在促进建立 为他们的学员提供持久和富有成效的研究事业。

PROJECT SUMMARY The genetic inheritance of specific risk alleles is widely accepted as a major contributing factor to many, if not all, mental illnesses. Moreover, recent studies found that the precise epigenetic regulation of gene expression is critical for normal learning and memory processes and is often disrupted in the diseased brain. However, despite recent concerted efforts of numerous neuroscientists and physicians, the links between precise molecular and synaptic defects resulting from (epi)genetic variation and specific brain circuit abnormalities that result in particular behavioral disorders remain rather poorly understood. Given the ongoing avalanche of new genetic/genomic data associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, there is a rapidly expanding need to train the next generation of neuroscientists to be facile in both modern molecular genetic approaches in different model systems, as well as in cutting edge molecular bioinformatics techniques that are required to link individual genes to normal brain functions and disease processes. The over-arching goal of this multi-disciplinary postdoctoral Training Program in Functional Neurogenomics is to support a training pipeline that fosters the development of new investigators with these skills. This competing renewal application will demonstrate an advancement and evolution in both the available training mentors and in cutting edge inter-disciplinary technical capabilities that builds on the substantial prior successes of this long-running program. Our efforts are supported by significant ongoing investments by Vanderbilt in new neuroscience leadership, faculty, educational programs, technological expertise and core facilities. Taken together, this provides a robust and rigorous environment for trainees to gain expertise in opportunities afforded by genetic model systems, the translation of human genetic findings into construct-valid animal models, in vivo manipulations of molecules, cells and circuits using advanced approaches, and in capturing the epigenetic, physiological, and behavioral consequences of such manipulations. The Program Director is Roger J. Colbran, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics. Dr. Colbran has a long-standing, well-funded program investigating molecular mechanisms involved in synaptic plasticity using multi-disciplinary approaches from biochemical structure-function to mouse genetics and behavior. The Co-Director, J. David Sweatt, Ph.D., was recently recruited to Vanderbilt as the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and has previously served on both the NIMH Advisory Council and the NIMH intramural program Board of Scientific Councilors. Dr. Sweatt has made numerous highly-cited contributions to understanding mechanisms underlying learning and memory in previous positions at Baylor College of Medicine and UAB, with a particular recent focus on the role of epigenetics in cognition and neural plasticity. The program leadership has a long-standing commitment to mentoring the next generation of neuroscientists, with a strong track record of facilitating the establishment of enduring and productive research careers for their trainees.