Mission
The mission of the Center for Molecular
Toxicology (CMT) is to foster a state-wide research and training network
in toxicology and related biomedical disciplines in order to enhance
research capacity, research competiveness, and workforce development in
Rhode Island (RI).
Purpose
The CMT provides the multi-institutional Rhode
Island Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Network of Biomedical
Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) Program, which is funded by a grant from
the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes
of Health, an operational base that is not directly linked to a
particular department. At the University of Rhode Island (URI), faculty
and students from all colleges have access to and benefit from
activities, services, and resources made available through the CMT. The
educational and research activities in toxicology are concentrated at
the College of Pharmacy and hence the Center is located in this
college. The Network institutions are: Brown University, Rhode Island
College, Providence College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina
University, and Bryant University.
Objectives
Consistent with its mission, the CMT has the
following objectives:
Research Career Development of
Faculty. Since its inception, through the INBRE grant, CMT has
been instrumental in leveraging new faculty positions at URI and other
network institutions in the state. It supports the career development
of junior faculty whose research areas are related to the Center’s
research focus. Prospective faculty members are assisted in developing
their grant proposals. The faculty are mentored and supported usually
for three years under this program. In addition, Pilot Projects for
proposal development and student training are also awarded. A number of
RI-INBRE-supported faculty at URI and Brown University, and some at the
primarily undergraduate institutions, have successfully obtained
independent external grants. At the primarily undergraduate
institutions in the network, faculty receive financial support from
RI-INBRE to train students in research methodology, present research
findings at scientific meetings, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific
literature.
Research Training of Students and
Postdoctoral Fellows. A number of URI students and
postdoctoral fellows receive financial support from the RI-INBRE
Program. In addition, student training in research also takes place at
the network institutions. During the summer, a 10-week Summer
Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program is organized both at
URI and the network institutions. The SURF program culminates with an
Undergraduate Research Day which is celebrated jointly with the RI
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) SURF
program.
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