Institute of Neuroscience, MCG, News and Events

MCG Awarded T32 Neuroscience Training Grant

The NIH has notified the Medical College of Georgia that it will make a 5 year, $936,571 award for a T32 Neuroscience Training grant to support training of future neuroscientists in the area of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neural Repair. The start date of the award is July 1, 2005. INS members, Dr. Robert K. Yu (Professor and Director of the Institute of Neuroscience) and Dr. Darrell W. Brann (Associate Director of the Institute) co-wrote the training grant application and will serve as Principal Investigator/Director and Co-Director, respectively. The T32 Neuroscience Training grant will support 4 neuroscience trainees per year (3 postdoctoral trainees and 1 predoctoral trainee). The Training Program has 17 faculty mentors from various departments, centers and programs throughout the INS, reflecting the interdisciplinary training approach and focus of the program. Congratulations to Dr. Yu and Dr. Brann!

Dr. Brann Receives R01 Grant Award From NIH/NINDS

The NIH has notified the Medical College of Georgia that it will make a 5 year, $1.65 million award for a R01 grant on Neuroprotective and Neurogenic Actions of Estrogen and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators. INS member, Dr. Darrell W. Brann, is the Principal Investigator of the grant, and the start date for the grant was May 24, 2005. Congratulations to Dr. Brann!

INS Members Receive Distinguished Faculty Awards

Dr. Robert J. Adams, Presidential Distinguished Chair and Regents Professor, Department of Neurology, received the 2005 MCG School of Medicine Distinguished Faculty Award for Clinical Science Research at the School of Medicine Faculty Senate Faculty Awards Ceremony May 17th. Congratulations to Dr. Adams!

Dr. Darrell W. Brann, Professor and Associate Director of the Institute of Neuroscience, and Professor of the Department of Neurology and the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, received the 2005 MCG School of Medicine Distinguished Faculty Award for Basic Science Teaching at the School of Medicine Faculty Senate Faculty Awards Ceremony May 17th. Congratulations to Dr. Brann!

Dr. David Kozlowski, Assistant Professor of the Developmental Neurobiology program/IMMAG, received the 2005 School of Graduate Studies Outstanding Service Award at the School of Graduate Studies Faculty Assembly Ceremony on April 28th. Congratulations to Dr. Kozlowski!

Dr. Xiong Appointed to NIH Study Section

Dr. Wen-Cheng Xiong, Associate Professor of the Developmental Neurobiology program/IMMAG, was recently appointed to a 4-year term as a regular member of the Cell Structure and Function Study Section at NIH, effective July 1, 2005. Congratulations to Dr. Xiong!

INS Member Receives Patent for Neuroprotective Drugs

Buccafusco, J.J., Beach W.B., Terry, A.V.T., Jr. and Jonnala, R.R.: Novel Analogs of Choline for Neuroprotection and Cognitive Enhancement in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Patent Number: 6,881,738; issue date: 04/19/05. Congratulations to Dr. Buccafusco and colleagues!

MCG Stroke Program Earns JCAHO Certification

The Stroke Program in the Neuroscience Center of Excellence recently participated in an on-site review conducted by JCAHO, resulting in the program receiving certification. This Certificate of Distinction signifies that the Stroke Program has met or surpassed the standards and criteria defined by the Brain Attack Coalition and adopted by JCAHO for recognition as a Primary Stroke Center. Certification as a Primary Stroke Center provides stroke patients with the assurance that they will receive the best care possible. Congratulations to Dr. Hess and everyone involved in the MCG Stroke program for achieving this important certification!

Institute of Neuroscience
Medical College of Georgia
Please e-mail comments, suggestions or questions to:
Laura Hutcheson, ljhutche@mcg.edu
July 18, 2005