The Center for Translational Neuroscience,

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Center for Translational Neuroscience
Seminar Series
Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 12 noon Rayford
Auditorium, Biomed II Bldg.
The Center for Translational Neuroscience, 4
years of progress. Edgar Garcia-Rill,
PhD Director, Center for Translational
Neuroscience Dept. Neurobiology Dev. Sci. UAMS
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During the initial award, we generated gt12
million in new grants to investigators and
recruits, and published gt130 articles or chapters
and gt135 abstracts or presentations. We devised
a new and effective treatment for tinnitus,
developed a device as well as a new drug
treatment for hyperreflexia and spasticity after
spinal cord injury, we developed a cure
(elimination of symptoms) for spatial neglect,
discovered a novel mechanism for sleep-wake
control that will also impact the mechanisms
behind anesthesia, and have begun to decrease the
death rate among low birth weight babies in the
State. However, we need an additional period of
support in order to increase our critical mass of
investigators, secure PPG and P50 awards,
graduate from the program, and become an
independent Center for Translational
Neuroscience. We propose to 1) strengthen and
augment translational neuroscience research
through mentoring promising Junior clinician and
basic scientists by established, dedicated senior
Mentors, 2) expand the research programs of Early
career investigators by forming research teams
including successful, previously supported
investigators and new Junior investigators
mentored by multiple established senior
investigators, 3) enhance the infrastructure
critical for expanding translational neuroscience
research by supporting, upgrading and expanding
our Core Facilities, 4) increase the critical
mass of translational neuroscience researchers at
UAMS by recruiting 5 additional junior
scientists, 5) maintain our successful Career
Development Program for young investigators and
institute a new Leadership Program for
established and young researchers, who will be
required to meet specific performance milestones,
and 6) develop a strategy to "graduate" from
COBRE support that will ensure the continuity of
the CTN. The Research Plan proposed is designed
to meet these aims and create a permanent Center
for Translational Neuroscience. Given the
successes outlined in our Progress Report, and
despite dramatic changes in funding availability,
we are confident that we will meet our goals in
achieving "graduation" from this program. We
look forward to continuing to mentor additional
promising clinician and basic scientists, and
help improve health care for our citizens.