Wisconsin Nathan Shock Center

University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract Research Development Core The Wisconsin Nathan Shock Center (WiNSC) will serve as a hub for highly collaborative and innovative aging research and training, with a focus on metabolism and translation. The goal of the Research Development (RD) Core is to support the expansion of top-level research in aging, to identify and support talented early-stage investigators, and provide a means for established investigators to pivot towards new and innovative avenues of aging research. The RD Core we will leverage existing expertise and infrastructure to attract greater investment and commitment to aging research, build on our nationally competitive programs, and address the critical need to translate biological insight to human health. Our program is designed specifically to enhance the pipeline for development of new ideas, provide funding at critical stages in idea development, and provide intellectual and mentoring support for early-stage investigators and those established investigators new to aging research. To accomplish the goals of the RD Core, four distinct research support programs will be offered along with a stage-specific mentoring structure and overall integration and implementation of the community-building goals of the WiNSC. The RD will draw from a rich pool of investigators and trainees to expand aging research locally and nationally including the NSC network and the aging research community at large. In conjunction with the Administrative Core and the Executive Committee (EC) the RD Core will award yearly a minimum of 15 Research Awards among these distinct funding mechanisms: Pilot Awards, Idea Awards, Weindruch Scholars and Mini-Sabbaticals. Pilot Awards function to support highly innovative approaches or new concepts, Idea Awards are built to rapidly fill experimental gaps, Weindruch Scholars are up-and-coming early-stage investigators, and Mini Sabbaticals support external scientific and networking development in partnership with aging focused investigators nationally. The RD Core will provide mentoring and infrastructure to build a highly integrated network of researchers and trainees in the basic biology of aging, focusing on the metabolic aspects of aging and/or age-associated diseases, and non-clinical translational research applied to age-associated diseases. To expand the impact of our research program and to enhance translation in aging research we will co-sponsor (cost-matching) Pilot Awards from our colleagues at the UWCCC, ICTR, and ADRC, selecting from their pool of pilot applications those that are aging relevant and thematically aligned with the mission of the WiNSC. For each support mechanism the EC and RD will establish an appropriate Review Committee, and once awarded will establish a mentoring plan and iterative guidance to reach research and career milestones.