Specialized Program in Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology

本提案是对NINDS发布的专门神经科学研究计划（SNRP）有限竞争通知的回应。我们申请的主要目标是建立在最初的SNRP拨款的基础上，并加强波多黎各大学新成立的细胞和分子神经科学集群。具体做法是：（i）资助三名有前途的神经科学家，指导他们成为独立的研究人员，开展有竞争力的研究项目;（ii）通过举办一系列活跃的研讨会，邀请杰出的神经科学家介绍他们的工作并与当地神经科学家互动，以及组织当地神经科学家会议，在普遍定期审议期间营造神经科学环境 及（iii）设立神经科学培训计划。参与的研究人员包括来自医学院生理学系的安娜贝尔·塞加拉，她与马萨诸塞州的克雷格·费里斯合作，Eduardo Rosa-Molinar，生物系的。与加州理工学院的斯科特·弗雷泽和神经生物学研究所的约书亚·罗森塔尔合作，与美国国立卫生研究院的米格尔·霍姆格伦和斯沃茨合作。SNRP主任将是Jose E. Garcia-Arraras，生物系教授，在指导研究项目方面拥有丰富的经验。该计划将对波多黎各的神经科学产生巨大的影响，通过团结在一个有凝聚力的工作组，一些最活跃的研究人员，研究生和本科生从神经生物学研究所，生物学系和生理学系。波多黎各大学的教授。该计划还将加强研究基础设施， 技术转移到各个实验室。最后，SNRP将提供所需的结构，以继续在以前的SNRP中启动的科学研究，并在波多黎各建立第一个神经科学培训计划。

This proposal is in response to the Notice of Limited Competition for Specialized Neuroscience Research Programs (SNRPs) issued by NINDS. The main goal of our application is to build-upon the foundation set by the initial SNRP grant and strengthen the newly formed cluster in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Puerto Rico. This will be done by (i) funding three promising neuroscientists and directing them to become independent investigators with competitive research projects, (ii) fostering the neuroscience environment at UPR with an active seminar series where eminent neuroscientists are invited to present their work and to interact with local neuroscientists as well as by organizing meetings among local neuroscientists and (iii) setting up a training program in Neurosciences. The participating investigators include Annabell Segarra, from the Physiology Department of the Medical School collaborating with Craig Ferris of U.Mass., Eduardo Rosa-Molinar, of the Biology Dept. collaborating with Scott Fraser of Caltech and Joshua Rosenthal of the Institute of Neurobiology collaborating with Miguel Holmgren and Kenton Swartz of NIH. The SNRP Director will be Dr. Jose E. Garcia-Arraras, Professor in the Biology Department who has extensive experience in directing research programs. The Program will have a huge impact on Neuroscience in Puerto Rico by uniting in a cohesive working group some of the most active researchers, graduate and undergraduate student from the Institute of Neurobiology, the Biology Dept and the Physiology Dept. of the University of Puerto Rico. The Program will also enhance the research infrastructure providing equipment and technique transfers to various laboratories. Finally, SNRP will provide the structure needed to continue scientific studies initiated in the previous SNRP and to establish the first Training Program in Neurosciences in Puerto Rico.