The Vanderbilt Conte Center for Neuroscience Research Signaling Networks Supporting SerotoninTransport explores the genetic and biochemical networks sustaining 5HT's complex role in behavior andphysiology. The Biobehavior Core will organize instrumentation, methodologies and support staff to supportbehavioral studies of Conte projects. This core, directed by Dr. Michael McDonald, Assistant Professor ofPharmacology at Vanderbilt, organizes mouse behavioral testing on behalf of Conte Investigators in theareas of 1) sensorimotor and somatosensory responses , 2) cognition, anxiety, social behavior and reward,and 3) depression/SSRI responsivity. Training and technical assistance on computer-controlled, automatedtasks as well as manual tasks will be provided to project investigators and their staff by the Core director andCore staff. Dr. McDonald will coordinate and oversee the activities of dedicated support staff. Detailedmethods and resources offered by the Core will be available at the Conte website and distributed freely tothe scientific community. The Core will take advantage of established and expanded infrastructure linked tothe Murine Neurobehavioral Laboratory (MNL) directed by Dr. McDonald for the Center for MolecularNeuroscience. This will permit a modest investment in dedicated support from Dr. McDonald and associatedstaff to deliver state-of-the art mouse behavioral testing capabilities in support of the Conte projects. TheCore will be supported by two staff members, one a Ph.D. level, full-time associate completely supported byinstitutional funds to provide dedicated support for behavioral testing needs of Conte Investigators. The CoreDirector and Project Investigators will receive expert consultation from Dr. Irwin Lucki, University ofPennsylvania, who is an expert in biogenic amine signaling in rodent neurobehavioral models and tests toelicit SSRI responsiveness. As none of the Conte Investigators have behavioral testing facilities associatecwith their laboratories, these tools, methods and personnel resources will provide critical analyticaOpportunities to Conte investigators as they pursue a more integrative evaluation of 5HT gene and protein etworks.
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