NIH NCRR - IDeA Program

1. Purpose: to expand biomedical research infrastructure in Arkansas NIH NCRR - IDeA Program

2. A multidisciplinary research network with a thematic scientific focus Cellular Signaling, Growth, and Differentiation Two Research Focus Groups Neuroscience Directors: Paul D. Drew & Robert D. Skinner Cancer and Signaling MechanismsDirector: Robert E. McGehee

3. Mentoring Core Objectives • Promote networking among project leaders (PLs), • their students and mentors through • Research Focus Groups • Neuroscience • Cancer and Signaling Mechanisms • Help monitor the PLs’ progress in becoming competitive for extramural research funding through • Mentoring Advisory Committee • 1. review progress of PLs via annual reports • 2.provide recommendations on continued support • to Steering & External Advisory Committees

4. Research Focus Groups • Meet regularly(3x/year) to promote informal, “friendly” critique of ongoing research activities in PLs’ labs • meetings hosted by local PL(s) (Mentoring Core budget) • PLs required to present once a year overview of progress on research projects (informal seminar/lab meeting format) • Seminar Series - to encourage formation of outside contacts (potential grant reviewers, editorial board members) 3 seminar speakers budgeted per Research Focus Group per year

5. Project Leaders, their Mentors, and Research Projects Research Focus: Neuroscience Roger Buchanan, PhD Edgar Garcia-Rill, PhD; Robert D. Skinner, PhD; Bill Gurley, PhD Effects of nicotine on processes mediated by the reticular activating system Barbara Clancy, PhD Kanwaljeet S. Anand, MD Effects of adverse perinatal experiences on cortical organization Antonie Rice, PhD Steve W. Barger, PhD Assessment of drug uptake and permeability properties of novel anticancer agents in the brain Malathi Srivatsan, PhD Fang Zheng, PhD; Kevin Phelan, PhD Cholinergic mechanisms in neuronal regeneration Research Focus: Cancer and Signaling Mechanisms Pradip Bandyopadhyay, PhD Vladimir P. Zharov, PhD Investigation of thermal effects in photodynamic therapy to treat solid tumors Barry Gehm, PhD Stavros C. Manolagas, MD Signaling by non-classical ligands of estrogen receptor: novel approaches to detection and mechanism Timothy Hayes, PhD Robert E. McGehee, Jr., PhD p107 function in 3T3-L1 differentiation Robert Gregerson, PhD Angus MacNicol, PhD Translational regulation during Xenopus oocyte development Patricia Marks, PhD Frank A. Simmen, PhD The effect of c-Myc expression on the activation of the gastrin promoter

6. Project Leaders, their Mentors, & Research Projects cont. Research Focus: Neuroscience & Cancer and Signaling Mechanisms Brian Greuel, PhD Patricia A. Wight, PhD; John Majors, PhD Transcriptional regulation of the myelin proteolipid protein gene: Effect of intron 1-binding factors on chromatin remodeling during oligodendrocyte differentiation Lori Hensley, PhD Paul D. Drew, PhD Molecular mechanisms contributing to gender disparity in multiple sclerosis Richard Murray, PhD Patricia A. Wight, PhD The role of bone morphogenetic proteins in nociceptive neuron development

7. Mentoring Advisory Committee • Dennis A. Baeyens, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Biology, UALR • Gwen V. Childs, Ph.D., Professor & Chair, Dept. of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, UAMS • Robert J. Shmookler-Reis, D.Phil., Professor, Depts. of Geriatrics, Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Pharmacology & Toxicology, UAMS • Michael S. Owens, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology, UAMS • Rose Marie McConnell, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, UA Monticello, • Thomas E. Goodwin, Ph.D., Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Hendrix College

8. MAC’S ROLE • Meets as a study section annually to review annual progress reports from the 14 UGI PLs • Prepares short report on each PL to the Steering Committee, External Advisory Committee, and INBRE PI • (to advise on the continued support and retention of PLs)

9. Review of Annual Reports • Feb. 2006 – Yr. 1 report (after ~9 mos.) • Feb. 2007 – Yr. 2 report (warning?) • Aug. 2007 – Update on improvement • May 2008 – Replacement? (reviewed by P.I., Steering & EA Com.

10. Mentoring Plans of PLs • Research Mentor; Institutional Mentor; Annual Reports • mentor & PL/mentee develop timeline • (informally record meetings) • Commitments of UGI PLs as Mentees • research time protected & guaranteed by each UGI administration to commit 50% effort to research activities • meet one-on-one with Research Mentors(1-2X/month) • attend 3 meetings per year of Research Focus Group and present 1X/year • mentor own students • meet with Institutional Mentor(3X/year) • submit Annual Report to INBRE MAC

11. Roles of Research Mentors • meet with his/her mentee (at least quarterly) to discuss PL’s research progress • host the mentee at mentor’s lab meetings (1X/month) • make techniques & equipment from own laboratory available to the PL • help PL develop timelines for manuscript, grant proposal submission, & help the PL keep on target in the accomplishment of the specific aims of project • visit PL’s laboratory annually to give research seminar at PL’s UGI & interact with students • attend the specific Research Focus Group meetings (when PL presents) • help PL/mentee establish professional contacts

12. Mentoring Core Budget • ~$18,000: • $9,000 for Seminar Speakers • $9,000 for Travel • $6,000 for Seminar Speakers’ travel • $3,000 for Mentors’ and MAC travel