Postdoctoral Program in Functional Neurogenomics

功能神经基因组学博士后项目

• 批准号: 9096901
• 负责人: ROGER J COLBRAN
• 金额: $ 28.65万
• 依托单位: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-07-15 至 2018-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9096901
• 关键词: programs

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neuroscientists and physicians continue to struggle to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie mental illness, and even more so to translate this information into the personalized therapies needed for diseases. Although research over the past five decades has uncovered genes, gene variants, molecular networks, cellular interactions and brain pathways supporting brain disorders, our translation of this information remains limited. A new generation of neuroscientists is needed that understand, and can exploit, 1) the functional impact of genetic and epigenetic variation in vivo, 2) the developmental and regulatory context within which genes produce alterations in synaptic physiology, 3) the circuit-level pathologies that lead to changes in behavior and 4) the best practices in translating research findings into novel therapies. We propose The Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Training Program in Functional Neurogenomics as a vehicle to insure a merger of disciplines, where trainees gain experience in the opportunities afforded by genetic model systems, gain expertise in the translation of human genetic findings into construct-valid animal models, learn to manipulate molecules, cells and circuits with advanced approaches in vivo, and gain experience in capturing the physiological and behavioral consequences of such manipulations. We build our program on a significant investment over the past two decades by Vanderbilt in neuroscience faculty, educational programs, technological expertise and core facilities. Our Program Director is Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D., an NIMH MERIT awardee and Director of the Vanderbilt Silvio O. Conte Center for Neuroscience Research. Dr. Blakely's research ranges from forward and reverse genetic studies in C. elegans to the modeling of mental illness-associated gene variation in transgenic mice, to the identification of functional human genetic variation underlying autism and ADHD. Two established neuroscientists with a long-standing interest in advancing the careers of junior scientists oversee the Program. The Program Co-Director is Roger D. Cone, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics at Vanderbilt, and an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Cone's research incorporates the tools of modern genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and behavior, with a focus on CNS control of appetite and eating disorders. Similar to Dr. Blakely, the paradigms used in Dr. Cone's research ranges across powerful genetic model systems, including transgenic zebrafish and mice, to research probing for functional gene variation underlying eating disorders. Like Dr. Blakely, Dr. Cone has trained dozens of predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows, bringing significant mentorship experience to the Program.

描述（由申请人提供）：神经科学家和医生继续努力了解基于精神疾病的病理生理机制，甚至更多地将这些信息转化为疾病所需的个性化疗法。尽管在过去的五十年中的研究发现了基因，基因变异，分子网络，细胞相互作用和支持脑部疾病的大脑途径，但我们对这些信息的翻译仍然有限。需要一系列新一代的神经科学家，可以理解并可以利用，1）体内遗传和表观遗传变异的功能影响，2）基因在其中产生突触生理变化的发育和调节环境，3）电路水平的病理学这会导致行为变化，以及4）将研究结果转化为新疗法的最佳实践。我们提出了功能性神经基因组学的范德比尔特博士后培训计划，作为确保合并学科的工具，在这些工具中，学员在遗传模型系统提供的机会方面获得了经验，在将人类遗传发现转化为建构疫苗动物模型，学习，学习的机会方面获得了专业知识，从而获得了专业知识。在体内采用先进的方法来操纵分子，细胞和电路，并获得捕获此类操作的生理和行为后果的经验。在过去的二十年中，范德比尔特（Vanderbilt）在神经科学教师，教育计划，技术专业知识和核心设施中建立了计划。我们的计划主管是NIMH优异奖奖学生Randy D. Blakely博士，也是Vanderbilt Silvio O. Conte Neuroscience Research中心的主任。 Blakely博士的研究范围从秀丽隐杆线虫的前进和逆向遗传研究到转基因小鼠中与精神疾病相关的基因变异的建模，再到鉴定自闭症和ADHD的功能性人类遗传变异。两名建立的神经科学家对促进初级科学家的职业有浓厚的兴趣负责监督该计划。该计划联合导演是范德比尔特分子生理与生物物理学系主任的罗杰·D·科恩（Roger D. Cone博士的研究结合了现代遗传学，分子生物学，生物化学和行为的工具，重点是控制食欲和饮食失调。与Blakely博士类似，Cone博士研究中使用的范式在包括转基因斑马鱼和小鼠在内的强大遗传模型系统范围内，用于研究探测饮食失调基础的功能基因变异的探测。像Blakely博士一样，Cone博士已经培训了数十个术前和博士后研究员，为该计划带来了丰富的指导经验。