The goals of my research are to understand the molecular events associated with retinoic acid-induced teratogenesis. To achieve this end, my immediate needs are to broaden my research skills, in part through interactions with other researching prominent approaches and refine the techniques I currently use, as well as to continue to grow in the ability to critically analyze research problems and concepts, and to develop innovative experimental designs. This award will significantly reduced my teaching and service responsibilities to no more than 10 to 15% of my time so that I can concentrate almost exclusively on research activity within my own laboratory, for the continuation, development, and enhancement of collaborations within Temple University and with scientists at other institutions. In addition, it will provide additional time and monies for travel to meetings, workshop and individual laboratories to enhance my research career and program. Temple University School of Medicine agrees to reduce my teaching and service responsibilities so that they will be no more than 10 to 15% of my time and to provide me with sufficient space, full use of equipment and shared resources and abilities to purchase and maintain specialized equipment to enhance my research program. Departmental budget will not be reduced because of this award assuring that at the end of this award the School of Medicine shall resume financial obligation for full payment of salary and fringe benefits at a level commensurate with meritorious continuous service to the institution. Research proposed in this application deals with the identification and characterization of the role of ANALYZE-Beta in both normal and teratogenic development. More specifically using a variety of molecular biology approaches, I will study the molecular regulation and morphological consequences of ANALYZE-beta expression during development in mouse embryos treated with normal and teratogenic doses of retinoic acid.
