Cell Biology Hires in Trafficking and Optical Imaging at the Univ. of Minnesota

描述(申请人提供)：分子在细胞内的运动是活细胞的一个基本属性，反映在非常大量的细胞过程中，包括细胞分裂、神经轴突内的运输和营养物质和信号分子的内吞等等。细胞或运输的货物的贩运机制的突变可能会产生与人类疾病有关的贩运缺陷。举例来说，这些疾病包括动脉粥样硬化、神经退行性变和多囊肾病。为了使明尼苏达大学在分子贩运领域，特别是在马达蛋白、膜和有丝分裂领域保持领先地位，它正在建立一个分子贩运核心中心。这将增强其解决这些与健康有关的问题的能力。在这份P30申请书中，NIGMS要求提供资金，用于支付两名新的终身教职教师的工资，这将使我们有能力实现申请书中描述的四个具体目标：1)进一步了解各种细胞过程中潜在的分子运输机制。2)创造机会，直接分析造成人类疾病的贩运缺陷。3)促进有才华的新调查员的职业发展，他们将加入该中心。4)继续开发对人口贩运研究至关重要的多用户光学成像设施。在P30资助的两年期结束后，预计新同事将继续研究贩运机制，并进一步发展他们的学术研究事业，因为他们将获得终身教职，并在未来几年继续从事富有成效的职业。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The intracellular movement of molecules is a fundamental property of living cells, being reflected in a very large number of cellular processes, including cell division, transport within nerve axons and endocytosis of nutrients and signaling molecules, to name a few. Mutations in the trafficking machinery of the cell or the cargoes that are transported can generate trafficking defects that are linked to human disease. To illustrate, these diseases include atherosclerosis, neuro-degeneration and polycystic kidney disease. In order for the University of-Minnesota to remain at the forefront of the field of molecular trafficking, especially in the areas of motor proteins, membranes and mitosis, it is establishing a Molecular Trafficking Core Center. This will enhance its ability to address these health-related problems. Funds requested in this P30 application from the NIGMS, to cover salaries for two new tenure-track faculty members, will equip us to meet four Specific Aims, as described in the application: 1) Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying molecular trafficking in varied cellular processes. 2) Create opportunities to directly analyze trafficking defects responsible for human disease. 3) Foster the career development of talented new investigators, who will join the Center. 4) Continue to develop the multi-user optical imaging facilities, which are critical for trafficking research. Following completion of the two-year period of P30 funding, it is anticipated that the new colleagues will continue their research on trafficking mechanisms and further develop their academic research careers, as they achieve tenure and go on to productive careers in the years ahead.