This proposal requests continued funding of an established Neuroscience Graduate Training Program in the Institute for Neuroscience (INS) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). This program is becoming a nationally-recognized center of excellence in neuroscience training with the creation of a new Department of Neuroscience, construction of the new Dell Medical School with Clay Johnston, a neuroscientist, as the inaugural Dean, and recruitment of outstanding Faculty. Faculty have appointments in Neuroscience, Neurology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Molecular Bioscience, and Integrative Biology, and resolutely participate in 8 prestigious centers that are part of the INS, including the Center for Learning and Memory, Center for Perceptual Systems, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Behavioral Neuroscience, Imaging Research Center, and Computational Visualization Center. The program has particular strengths in the neuroscience of perceptual systems, learning and memory, and addiction research, and Faculty provide excellent training across levels of inquiry from molecules to biochemistry, structure, physiology, behavior, neuroethology, and evolution with advanced computation and theory at all levels. This breadth provides graduate students with extensive options for training in cross-disciplinary research, and the training Faculty have substantial funding to foster their research. We propose predoctoral funding for 4 new trainees and 4 second-year trainees (totaling 8 per year). The training program requirements include: a Boot Camp, laboratory research rotations, seminar presentations, 2 principles of neuroscience courses, a science/ethics course detailing responsible scientific conduct, a course in experimental design and statistics, and 4 electives including a neuroscience of disease course. They also participate in at least 1 specialized journal club related to their project. Students join a research lab by the summer of year 1, and complete coursework and qualifying exams, including oral defense of a review paper at the beginning of year 2. Our recruitment strategies have become even more successful as reflected in the quality and diversity of the applicants. The broad interdisciplinary training uniquely prepares our trainees for research success in neuroscience, which is crucial for advancements in the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of brain diseases. Furthermore, the founding of the Dell Medical School on the UT-Austin campus will greatly facilitate our translational neuroscience research.

Public Health Relevance

/HEALTH RELEVANCE The major health problems in the US result from brain diseases, including Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction, depression and bipolar disorders. Incomplete understanding of the neuroscience of these conditions accounts for the limited number of effective treatments. The goal of this proposal is to provide state-of-the-art training for the next generation of neuroscientists who are equipped to solve these health problems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32DA018926-16
Application #
9935475
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1)
Program Officer
Babecki, Beth
Project Start
2004-08-01
Project End
2025-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78759
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