K-INBRE Program OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the Kansas INBRE (K-INBRE) is to strengthen the ability of Kansas researchers to compete effectively for NIH funds by building a "critical mass" of junior and senior investigators as well as undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows supported with cutting edge technology within a scientific research theme. The scientific research theme chosen for the K-INBRE is Cell and Developmental Biology. The program brings together NIH-funded mentors, trainees and promising new investigators from each of the four Scientific Partner Institutions to drive forward a major statewide initiative to build Kansas strength in this critical life sciences research area. Because of geographic considerations in our large but sparsely populated state, emerging perceptions of the power of team science and the central issue of a skilled workforce, we focus on integration, communication and training.
Aim 1. Establish a multi-disciplinary research network with a thematic scientific focus that will build, strengthen and integrate biomedical research in the State of Kansas.
To achieve this Aim, the Administrative Core leadership of the Kansas BRIN/INBRE has identified a scientific focus (Cell and Developmental Biology), established a set of Scientific Partner Institutions [KUMC (Lead Institution), KU-L, K-State and W-State], constructed a Scientific Steering Committee for guidance, and identified four thematic areas within this research theme to be supported and strengthened. Thematic areas are: (1) reproduction and embryonic development, (2) organogenesis, (3) developmental neuroscience, and (4) cellular and developmental pathologies to include cancer.
Aim 2. Build and increase the research base and capacity by providing research support to junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students at the participating institutions.
Nourishing promising, in-place new investigators and supporting potentially outstanding scientists who have chosen research in cell and developmental biology as a career path is achieved by facilitating utilization of Administrative Core Grant programs that include Major Starter Grants, Research Support Grants, and Faculty Scholar Awards, and utilization of technology supported by the Bioinformatics Central and Satellite Core facilities.
Aim 3. Develop a seamless system for increasing the workforce of biomedical researchers in the State of Kansas so as to serve as a "pipeline" for undergraduate students to continue in health research.
Acknowledging that successful building of the cadre of biomedical researchers in the State of Kansas requires intensive efforts at the undergraduate level, programs have been designed to deliver special services tailored to the needs of our six undergraduate Outreach Institutions and strengthen their liaisons with the Scientific Partner institutions. Special services include (1) support for Campus Coordinator offices to identify and mentor outstanding undergraduates into careers in biomedical research (including access to the Summer Scholar and Star Trainee Award Programs (Undergraduate Support Core), (2)access to the statewide TeleResearch Network for discussions, collaborations and coursework (Administrative Core), and (3) provision of special partnering programs between undergraduates and faculty in Outreach Institutions and faculty in Scientific Partner institutions (Outreach Core).
Scientific Partner institutions are supplied with the first two of these three services to encourage undergraduates in their institutions to choose cell and developmental biology as a career as well as to facilitate interactions and transfers among institutions as students interested in Kansas graduate programs are identified in Outreach Institutions. Scientific Partners participate importantly as hosts in the partnering program offered through the Outreach Core.
Aim 4. Enhance science and technology knowledge of the Kansas workforce.
The preliminary BRIN facilitated the successful development of Bioinformatics cores in all of the Scientific Partner Institutions as well as linking with DNA microarray analysis at KUMC and initial exploration into partnering with proteomics (KU-L) and lipidomics (K-State). In the K-INBRE, two initiatives are supported: (1) the Bioinformatics Central and Satellite Cores offer valuable interpretative services and supervise dissemination of information and expertise on enabling technologies, including genomics, proteomics and lipidomics. The Core supports development and statewide access to didactic coursework in Bioinformatics offered through KU-L and K-State, and will support the development of new training in cutting edge technology that spans disciplines; (2) the Administrative Core is in charge of communication, overseeing the dissemination of information on grants and contracts available to support research and training of our K-INBRE faculty and trainees through our website, program brochures and email contact as well through symposia and workshops.
The implementation of this plan facilitates the generation of new strength in Cell and Developmental Biology in the State of Kansas, and ultimately contributes importantly to the development of new tools and strategies for improving human health.