Roxanne Vaughan, Ph.D. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences lding a competitive research progr
Jan 29, 2016
Roxanne Vaughan, Ph.D.Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Building a competitive research program
What is needed to be successful scientifically?
1. Submit grant proposals and obtain extramural funding.
TIME LINE: 6 months for writing, 9 months for review to funding. 6 more months if grant needs revising and resubmitting.
2. Publish work in high quality journals. TIME LINE: 3 - 6 months for writing, 3 - 6 months for
review, revision, and publication
3. Perform research and generate data. TIME LINE: 6 months - 1 year/manuscript
RESPONSIBILITIES OF NEW FACULTY
1. Integrating into new situation and new responsibilities.
2. Teaching - undergraduate, graduate, medical students.
3. Setting up lab - ordering equipment, supplies
FACULTY START-UP FUNDS FROM ND EPSCoR:
1. Ability to purchase equipment and supplies.
2. Ability to hire lab personnel
EPSCoR start-up funds were crucial for maintaining research
momentum
Ability to support graduate student within 2 months of my arrival She helped me with ordering equipment and supplies, establishing assays and getting lab work started We were performing experiments within 3
months of my arrival First publication from UND was submitted for
publication within one year and published during second year
Benchaporn PananusornMaster’s Student
Progress to date After 1 year at UND my NIH grant was
funded This allowed me to hire a post-doctoral
fellow, technician, and support two other students
James Foster, Ph.D.Research Assistant Professor
Jon GaffaneyDoctoral Student
Mark CervinskiDoctoral Student
Heather HoldenResearch Specialist
Research Projects Phosphorylation and regulation of
dopamine transporters Identification of active sites on DAT for
substrates and antagonists using irreversible ligands.
Identification of DAT NH2-terminus as major site of PKC-induced phosphorylation
Benchaporn
Identification of DAT phosphorylation sites by HPLC and 2-D TLC mapping.
Research Progress
Jamie
Identification of PP1 as major DAT phosphatase
Phosphorylation of DAT in response to psychostimulant drugs
Jamie
Mark
Heather
Identification of antagonist-induced conformational changes in DAT using protease protection assays.
JonIdentification of photoaffinity label binding sites.
19992 papers from collaborations
20002 papers including work from UND/1 collaborative paper
20012 papers entirely from UND/1 collaborative paper
20022 papers entirely from UND/1 paper submitted
20032 papers in preparation
During each following year we submitted 2-3 more papers
These levels of publication and research efforts are required for success
During competitive submission of my NIH grant the primary criticism resulting in
poor priority score was "lack of progress as evidenced by publications", even though the grant included data that resulted in paperseventually published in the Journal of Biological
Chemistry and Molecular Brain Research.
Grant Support Progress NIDA RO1 “Phosphorylation and regulation of
dopamine transporters” 17.5%, pending NIDA RO1 “Affinity labeling the dopamine
transporter active site” 18%, pending NIDA F32 Predoctoral Fellowship to Jon Gaffaney EPSCoR IIG “Phosphorylation of Human
Dopamine Transporters” RO1 subcontract “Ligand Binding Sites on DAT”
collaboration with Emory University Planned submissions to NSF, private foundations
Strategies for Success Become familiar with NIH and NSF websites
These contain instructions, electronic forms, hints for writing successful proposals, data and information on funded grants (CRISP database).
Talk with your NIH and NSF officials by telephone or at meetings.
Talk with your colleagues who have grants. Collaborate with colleagues at other institutions.
Ahn Pham, doctoral studentEmory UniversityWorking on DAT photoaffinity labeling project
DAT Research Group
Supported by ND EPSCoR, National Institute on Drug Abuse, UND Senate Scholarly Activities Committee
THANK YOU - STAFF OF EPSCoR for your efforts on behalf of
scientific progress and excellence in North Dakota