Pilot studies

描述(由申请人提供)：为先导研究部分提出的项目如下 主题与我们中心以前和目前支持的项目保持一致。例如，非那雄胺对酒精引起的情绪变化的影响的拟议研究与我们中心长期以来对药物治疗研究的支持是一致的。此外，对家族史阴性和家族史阳性受试者的功能磁共振研究与我们正在进行的对酗酒“风险”个人的研究是一致的。由Gary、Shoemaker和Levine博士提出的基础科学研究与该中心对与酒精中毒的病因或治疗有关的基础科学问题的兴趣是一致的。 试点研究计划由私人投资委员会和执行委员会管理，并听取了 科学顾问团。试点研究是在竞争性审查程序的基础上批准资助的，该程序非常类似于NIH的程序。它首先公开征集在ARC内部和医学院其他领域选定的研究小组传阅的建议。ARC执行委员会审查每一项提案，以首先核实它是否符合ARC的研究目标。如果执行委员会认为该提案有可取之处，则将其转交外部审查员。在最后的资金决定中，拟议的试点研究将支持制定一个更大的R01提案或P50的未来主要组成部分的可能性，将与该提案的科学价值结合起来考虑。 到目前为止，ARC支持的试点研究取得了显著进展。在目前的5年周期中，试点研究方案的支持迄今已产生了11份出版物、15份会议报告，以及--最重要的--8份赠款申请。我们预计，为下一个ARC周期提出的5项研究将同样富有成果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The projects proposed for the Pilot Study Component are thematically consistent with projects previously and currently supported by our Center. For example, the proposed study of the effects of finasteride on alcohol-induced changes in mood is consisteht with our Center's long-standing support of pharmacotherapy studies. In addition, the fMRI study of family history negative and family history positive subjects is consistent with our ongoing studies of individuals "at risk" for alcoholism. The basic science studies proposed by Drs. Gary, Shoemaker, and Levine are consistent with the Center's interest in basic science questions that relate to the etiology or treatment of alcoholism. The Pilot Study Program is managed by the PI and Executive Committee, with advice from the Scientific Advisory Group. Pilot studies are approved for funding on the basis of a competitive review procedure which closely approximates the NIH procedure. It begins with an open call for proposals that is circulated within the ARC and to selected research groups in other areas of the School of Medicine. The ARC Executive Committee reviews each proposal to verify, at first, that it is consistent with the research objectives of the ARC. If the proposal is considered to be meritorious by the Executive Committee, it is forwarded to external reviewers. The likelihood that the proposed pilot study will support the development of a larger R01 proposal, or a future major component of the P50, is considered in combination with the proposal's scientific merit in the final funding decision. The progress to date of ARC-supported pilot studies is outstanding. Support from the pilot studies program during the current 5-year cycle has thus far yielded 11 publications, 15 meeting presentations, and--most significantly--8 grant application submissions. We expect that the group of 5 studies proposed for the next cycle of the ARC will be similarly fruitful.