The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (NBA) continues to witness a remarkable period of growth and development, combined with continued enthusiasm in its core missions-research, teaching, and institutional service. Existing research programs have flourished while exciting new enterprises have come to fruition. Our teaching commitments continue to evolve at all levels across the University. Cooperative ventures with allied departments and centers that hold overlapping interests in the neural sciences continue to strengthen. Finally, services to the Medical Center and the University entail numerous leadership and contributory roles.
Research on the structure and function of the nervous system remains the Department’s major mission. Several areas of research emphasis characterize the Department’s research base: sensory, motor, and integrative systems, neuro-engineering and computational neurobiology, neuroscience of cognition learning and plasticity, the neurobiology of aging development and disease, and cell signaling and transmission. In addition, the faculty have developed a set of active multi-disciplinary focus groups, including those in Motor Physiology, Multi-Sensory Integration, Neuro-Engineering, Cortical Circuitry, and Neuro-Inflammation. Many participate in similar groups with homes in other departments around URMC and the College (e.g. development and stem cell research).
The growth and invigoration of research programs continues, particularly as our newest faculty members build novel laboratories and research programs. Ania Majewska, together with her husband, Ed Brown (in Biomedical Engineering), have developed their laboratories that bring the exciting new technology of advanced multi-photon in vivo imaging to the Department; effectively a form of multi-cellular structural neuroanatomy-neurophysiology. Their efforts, together with those of established and senior faculty, have been duly rewarded in the form of numerous grants from external funding agencies. Laurel Carney is our newest faculty member, joining the neuron-engineering group that comprises now six faculty members co-appointed with Biomedical Engineering (BME). Her area within neuro-engineering is in auditory neurophysiology, with active research programs on both the fundamental neurophysiology of central auditory processing, and translational aspects of restorative human hearing using novel hearing aid designs. She adds considerable strength to our growing research enterprise in sensory function, and in particular the auditory system. Robert Schor also joins our faculty this year, adding to our most eclectic sensory focus, the vestibular system. This makes us among the world's strongest groups in this small but important area.
In addition, the faculty continues to participate in a variety of NIH-funded Centers and Program Projects campus-wide. These include our NIH (NIDCD) funded Center—The Center for the Navigation and Communication Sciences (CNCS)—now in its fifth year of operation. The CNCS binds 12 faculty members, all members of NBA. The Center is in part modeled after, and interacts closely with, the venerable Center for Visual Science (CVS), in which many of our faculty also hold appointments. The result is a pro-active set of research cores and activities that help forge an enduring and vital intellectual community. Other elements of research development include new and active multi-disciplinary focus groups, including those in Motor Physiology (which has initiated a new NIH Program Project this year), Multi-Sensory Integration, Neuro-Engineering, Cortical Circuits, and Neuro-Inflammation (now bolstered by a T32 training grant).
A strong commitment to education remains a hallmark of the Department, stemming from the very inception of our medical school in 1925. Medical education is one area in which our faculty play major and essential roles. As the Double-Helix Curriculum continues to evolve, our engagement in years 1-2 focuses on two major courses: Human Structure and Function (a composite of gross anatomy, histology, embryology, and physiology) and Mind/Brain/Behavior (a mix of fundamental and clinical neuroscience). NBA faculty maintain leading and participatory roles in cooperation with other departments. Our faculty also lead efforts in 3rd and 4th year courses, while participating in a variety of other offerings. In addition, the Medical School’s overall mission receives considerable leadership support by our faculty. Dr. John Hansen deftly leads the Admissions office, while others participate in design and governance committees. An exciting new addition these last two years is the Academic Honors Program in Medical Neurobiology, which adds a fifth year of study, research and teaching experience to the medical curriculum, culminating in a MS Degree conferred along with the MD degree upon graduation. Our first students completed their studies and moved on, one into the MD-PhD program. This past year’s students actively pursue their coursework and thesis projects, while two new students enter for the coming year. Finally, NBA co-sponsors the Post-Graduate Medical Scientist Training Program in Medical Neurobiology — a program for MD-PhD graduates that combines a clinical residency in Neurology with post-doctoral research training.
NBA faculty also participate extensively in graduate education.Our own NBA Graduate Program is particularly well suited to both MD/PhD and PhD candidates interested in the function and dysfunction of the nervous system. Training builds upon a broad foundation in basic neuroscience (core curriculum) and then extends into the medical school curriculum to include human and clinical neurobiology. This is combined with strong research training in basic and translational disciplines as students enter their laboratory years. The outcome prepares students particularly well for academic careers within medical school departments like our own, where independent research is combined with medical and graduate teaching commitments. Our faculty also participate heavily in the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Neuroscience, as well as in other training programs, both graduate and undergraduate, in cooperation with the Departments of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS).
Service to the University and the Medical Center continues its high profile of commitment. Two faculty members serve on the Faculty Senate, while others hold leadership and participatory roles in cross-campus Centers and undergraduate programs of the College. Dr. Suzanne Stevens continues to lead the University Committee on Animal Research (UCAR) toward an improved and modernized operation. Dr. Kerry O’Banion directs a growing and flourishing MD-PhD Program, funded by the NIH’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). The MSTP continues to attract stellar students to our institution. Dr. Barbara Davis has initiated a new faculty development program in medical education, among numerous other leadership roles in this area. Dr. Diane Piekut directs the Anatomical Gift Program—an essential service element of any medical school. The Program has been substantially revitalized under her guidance. This has catalyzed additional efforts toward the development and expansion of advanced anatomical education at our institution, including new programs for clinical residency training within surgical specialties, continuing medical education programs for surgical faculty, and advanced studies for senior medical students. Further, other faculty contribute to major institutional committees in both research and education.
Local departmental services continue to evolve, including computational, web, and research core facilities. The latter include a first-rate Imaging and Histology Core (digital and ‘analog,’ including microscopy and digital darkroom facilities), a well-equipped Mechanical and Electronic Shop that includes state-of-the-art design/build automation capabilities, and a set of research technology cores (Neural Culture, Molecular Neurobiology, Technology Development, Human Subjects, and Protein Analysis). In concert, new technical staff have joined the Department, adding advanced technological, computational, and web services to the Department and to our broader community.
The Department’s outlook continues to benefit from, and be guided by, its growth trajectory and interactions with other departments and centers at the University. During the past few years we have succeeded in recruiting outstanding new faculty members, and have established remarkable strengths that are now quite visible to colleagues both within and beyond our borders.
I continue to be enthusiastic about the future of neuroscience at Rochester, and with the steady and tangible contributions made by our department. The compact and cooperative nature of our Medical Center and its location adjacent to the College campus comprises a rare attribute that we continue to exploit. We pride ourselves on our numerous interactive structures that bind neuroscientists across campus. This principle is clearly embodied in the Schmitt Program on Integrative Brain Research, now in its seventh year of operation, linking major neuroscience structures in support of interdisciplinary research, research technology development, training opportunities at several levels (undergraduate and medical students as well as post-doctoral fellows), visiting professorships, and thematic symposia. In sum, our Department continues to enjoy a period of renaissance. It is my honor as Chair to have helped nurture and promote this process, but as always, it is the faculty, students, and staff that provide the talent and initiative that ensures our success and our future.