West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT)

National Science Foundation (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track-1, Award #OIA-2242771

Vision: The vision of the West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT) is to transform neuroscience research in West Virginia by establishing connections and enabling access to the technologies and expertise needed for high resolution structure-function studies, and to build capacity and diversity through support for faculty, post docs, educators, and students, and to implement specific education and workforce development activities to engage underrepresented students especially first-generation college students in neuroscience research.

Mission: Using different animal models, we will leverage infrastructure and human investments to answer fundamental questions about neural plasticity in two inter-related themes: 1) Circuit plasticity during development and adulthood, and 2) Synaptic structure and plasticity associated with altered function.

WV-NFNT will build capacity and achieve the project vision by creating a network of neuroscience researchers working on high resolution structure-function studies in two-related themes: circuit and synaptic plasticity, and creating a related education, workforce development, and DEI effort (diversity, equity and inclusion). We will build capacity by making strategic faculty and staff hires, adding state-of the art microscopy and spatial transcriptomics infrastructure, and facilitating growth of the neuroscience community across the state. We will expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and bioinformatics through support for faculty, post docs, educators, and students, and by implementing specific education and workforce development activities to engage underrepresented students, especially rural, first-generation college students, in these research areas. Marshall University, Shepherd University, West Virginia State University, and West Virginia University are the four partner institutions at which capacity-building will be funded by the project.

Project Leaders

(EWDD: Education, Workforce Development and Diversity)

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Team Members