The Vanderbilt University
Grant: $101,600 - National Institutes of Health - Sep. 17, 2009
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Award Description: This research supplement request is intended to promote racial/ethinic diversity in health related research. We request two years of support for an African American graduate research assistant who is working towards a doctoral degree in the field of molecular neurotoxicology and neurodegeneration. Specifically, graduate research assistant will explore the mechanisms behind a manganese resistance phenotype in Huntington’s Disease. The research plan is composed of two specific aims to mechanistically characterize a defect in manganese transport due to expression of the Huntington’s Disease gene. In specific aim 1 he will measure Mn transport kinetics to determine if decreased net Mn uptake in mutant cells is due to impaired Mn homeostasis. In specific aim 2 he will evaluate whether metal transport pathways underlie the HD-Mn disease-toxicant interaction. The graduate research plan proposed for the candidate is directly related to specific aim 1 from the parent RO1 award, but uses expanded approaches to reach the same goals. Thus the proposed training nicely fits with the overall objectives of the parent award, but provides experimental flexibility to facilitate research training and creative inquiry. Furthermore, the research plan is designed to facilitate the candidate’s application for a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) to be prepared at the end of the first year of support. Providing financial support for research training of creative and professionally driven African American graduate students will aid in correcting the inequitable numbers of minorities in the biomedical sciences. Furthermore, Vanderbilt University is dedicated to addressing issues of diversity in the biomedical sciences. For example, 16% of our graduate students in the basic biomedical sciences are minorities, 19% in this year’s entering class (15% African American). This supplement request will assist us in accomplishing this goal by providing support for the training of a minority student for a successful career in health-related research within the field of neurotoxicology.
Project Description: This research supplement request is intended to promote racial/ethinic diversity in health related research. We request two years of support for an African American graduate research assistant who is working towards a doctoral degree in the field of molecular neurotoxicology and neurodegeneration. The graduate research assistant will explore the mechanisms behind a manganese resistance phenotype in Huntington’s Disease. The research plan is composed of two specific aims to mechanistically characterize a defect in manganese transport due to expression of the Huntington’s Disease gene. Aim 1 he will measure Mn transport kinetics to determine if decreased net Mn uptake in mutant cells is due to impaired Mn homeostasis. Aim 2 he will evaluate whether metal transport pathways underlie the HD-Mn disease-toxicant interaction. The graduate research plan proposed for the candidate is directly related to specific aim 1 from the parent RO1 award, but uses expanded approaches to reach the same goals. Thus the proposed training fits with the overall objectives of the parent award, but provides experimental flexibility to facilitate research training & creative inquiry. Providing financial support for research training of creative and professionally driven African American graduate students will aid in correcting the inequitable numbers of minorities in the biomedical sciences. Vanderbilt University is dedicated to addressing issues of diversity in the biomedical sciences. For example, 16% of our graduate students in the basic biomedical sciences are minorities, 19% in this year’s entering class (15% African American). This supplement request will assist us in accomplishing this goal by providing support for the training of a minority student for a successful career in health-related research within the field of neurotoxicology.
Jobs Summary: Not Applicable at this time. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Not Started
This award's data was last updated on Sep. 17, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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