Training in Neural Control of organ Degeneration and Regeneration (NeuralCODR) - Neural activity directly controls the development and homeostasis of organ function. Yet, a surprising gap exists between laboratories focused on vascular, gastrointestinal, immune, and musculoskeletal systems and those focused on neurophysiology, neuromodulation, and neural injury. Traditionally, departments are organized by organ system and this siloed structure leads to a physical and scientific jargon separation, impeding collaboration and training. Hence, our understanding of how the central nervous system communicates with end organs throughout the body is in its infancy. Neural Control of Organ Degeneration and Regeneration (NeuralCODR), a cross-disciplinary training program unites 30 faculty members and 12 clinician researchers to form mentorship teams within the largest medical research center in the world (Texas Medical Center). Mentorship teams include a primary and secondary mentor (each from one of our three main areas of research: 1) neural development and tools, 2) neural innervation and organ engineering, and 3) nervous system and peripheral organ disorders) and a clinical mentor who provides much needed and rare exposure to real-world diseases, clinical challenges, and human samples. NeuralCODR aims to: 1) catalyze the collision of talent and ideas that spawn research projects bridging neuroscience with organ systems through facilitated interactions, 2) build co-mentor teams that include neuroscience, organ systems, and clinical perspectives, ensuring trainees are guided toward a unique research niche, and 3) train fellows in research rigor, analysis, and career skills that support their development as scientific leaders. NeuralCODR leverages a network of faculty who collaborate on projects that bridge the gap between organ system biology and engineering and neural function, degeneration and regeneration, as evidenced by an impressive list of multi-laboratory shared grants, publications, and nascent collaborations. The training structure emphasizes experiences in organ engineering and organ physiology laboratories in parallel with education in neurophysiology and neural engineering, translational theory, and practice. Currently, two NeuralCODR Houston Methodist-specific postdoctoral positions exist, thanks to a philanthropic endowment that has allowed us to build the program structure and to test both the coursework and mentorship team concept. Trainees are funded for two years, during which time they have access to a core curriculum, career development and program enrichment opportunities, symposiums/retreats, and elective courses. Year one culminates with the submission of an NRSA and a manuscript based on trainees’ development of a transformative research project that incorporates non-neuroscience expertise and tools into a neuroscience problem. Year two solidifies the relationships between the mentorship team and trainee and provides training in laboratory management, didactic teaching, and mentorship skills. T32 funding will allow us to increase the current model to six postdoctoral training slots. This training program will foster a new generation of scientific leaders who pioneer research on the connected pathways between brain and organ systems to solve fundamental challenges in neuroscience.
