This application is for """"""""highly-focused postdoctoral training"""""""". The objectives are to: 1) Provide outstanding postdoctoral training in basic research on molecular structure and physiological function of electrical and chemical synapses;2) Capitalize on the synergism and collaboration of participating faculty;3) Relate basic science findings to clinical problems;and 4) Train members of underrepresented minority groups. Strategies to these ends are to: 1) Restrict training faculty to a small, highly-interactive group;2) Recruit and select top quality trainees;3) Actively recruit minority trainees;4) Mandate attendance at departmental seminars, works-in-progress presentations and journal clubs;and 5) Promote collaborative projects with more than one mentor. Training areas will be: i) Connexins: Structure/Function and Electrical Synaptic Transmission. Studies include mechanisms of connexin channel gating and permeability, trafficking, regulation of expression, physiological roles of channels and hemichannels and mechanisms of diseases, //) Molecular/Cellular Physiology and Biophysics of Chemically Mediated Synaptic Transmission. Studies include glutamate and GABA receptor structure-function, pharmacology and trafficking, regulation by kinases, role of receptors in delayed neurodegeneration, inhibitory-excitatory neuron communication and neuronal integration, Hi) Mechanisms of Synaptic Plasticity. Studies include mechanisms of LTP and LTD, role of endogenous cannabinoids and kinases, receptor distribution, cycling and synaptic plasticity at the systems level. Research in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience continues to flourish, with the addition of 6 new faculty members since the last submission. Past and present trainees have been highly productive and show a high level of retention in biomedical research. The College continues to actively support graduate and postgraduate education. Trainees will carry out research under the primary supervision of participating faculty, with an emphasis on collaborative projects that extend the boundaries beyond a single laboratory. Bioethics and scientific conduct are a regular part of training. Trainees are recruited at national scientific meetings, especially the Society for Neuroscience, by announcements in Peterson's Guide and programs published by the Association of Neuroscience Departments/Programs. Additional efforts at minority recruitment involve participation at meetings organized for minority students. Trainees are encouraged to take full advantage of the multiplicity of scientific opportunities in the College as a whole.

Public Health Relevance

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32NS007439-11A1
Application #
7630737
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-P (47))
Program Officer
Korn, Stephen J
Project Start
1998-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$230,050
Indirect Cost
Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
110521739
City
Bronx
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10461
Velasquez, Stephani; Malik, Shaily; Lutz, Sarah E et al. (2016) Pannexin1 Channels Are Required for Chemokine-Mediated Migration of CD4+ T Lymphocytes: Role in Inflammation and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. J Immunol 196:4338-47
Sanchez, Helmuth A; Slavi, Nefeli; Srinivas, Miduturu et al. (2016) Syndromic deafness mutations at Asn 14 differentially alter the open stability of Cx26 hemichannels. J Gen Physiol 148:25-42
Ben-Simon, Yoav; Rodenas-Ruano, Alma; Alviña, Karina et al. (2015) A Combined Optogenetic-Knockdown Strategy Reveals a Major Role of Tomosyn in Mossy Fiber Synaptic Plasticity. Cell Rep 12:396-404
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Bejarano, Eloy; Yuste, Andrea; Patel, Bindi et al. (2014) Connexins modulate autophagosome biogenesis. Nat Cell Biol 16:401-14
Sanchez, Helmuth A; Bienkowski, Rick; Slavi, Nefeli et al. (2014) Altered inhibition of Cx26 hemichannels by pH and Zn2+ in the A40V mutation associated with keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome. J Biol Chem 289:21519-32
Sanchez, Helmuth A; Villone, Krista; Srinivas, Miduturu et al. (2013) The D50N mutation and syndromic deafness: altered Cx26 hemichannel properties caused by effects on the pore and intersubunit interactions. J Gen Physiol 142:3-22
Spray, David C; Hanstein, Regina; Lopez-Quintero, Sandra V et al. (2013) Gap junctions and Bystander Effects: Good Samaritans and executioners. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Membr Transp Signal 2:1-15
Negoro, Hiromitsu; Lutz, Sarah E; Liou, Louis S et al. (2013) Pannexin 1 involvement in bladder dysfunction in a multiple sclerosis model. Sci Rep 3:2152

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