# Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research-Functions of gustatory afferent neuron types.

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $43,250

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This application is for a Diversity Supplement to fund an enthusiastic young Hispanic female neuroscience
graduate from the University of Florida, Isabella Fleites. Isabella wants to strengthen her research
experience in sensory neurobiology and build a solid foundation for future graduate studies so that she can
build her career in neuroscience. Isabella feels that although her science background is strong, she needs
experience in molecular and cellular approaches to prepare her for competitive graduate programs.
My laboratory is ideally suited to helping Isabella succeed in her goals. She will learn key experimental skills
to supplement her background in the sciences. Specifically, my colleagues and I will train her to conduct in
vivo confocal Ca2+ imaging to record activity in gustatory receptor cells and in sensory ganglion neurons.
This involves learning delicate surgical procedures on genetically engineered (transgenic) mice, operating
computer-controlled sensory stimulation and confocal video image capture, and carrying out sophisticated
data analyses using advanced software apps. In addition to these technical skills, Isabella will learn how to
interpret complex data and to develop new experimental approaches to existing problems. By daily
interactions with others in my laboratory and in the laboratory of my collaborator, Dr. Nirupa Chaudhari, an
eminent molecular biologist, as well as via weekly joint laboratory meetings, Isabella will learn how to
interact as a peer with other researchers, how to share ideas, how to solve problems, and how to
communicate science. I have considerable experience and established success mentoring young scientists.
Dr. Chaudhari and our lab staff are also eager to assist Isabella.
The goals of this Diversity Supplement are to:
 · introduce Isabella to new research skillsꟷin vivo confocal Ca2+ imagingꟷto add to her formal
 neuroscience research training and to carry out an semi-independent project that is within the scope
 of ongoing studies in the parent grant, R01 DC018733, “Functions of gustatory afferent neuron types”,
 MPI's S Roper and N Chaudhari.
 · mentor Isabella in experimental design, analysis, and data interpretation. In addition to my own effort,
 this will be aided by informal daily interactions among members of two active research laboratories
 (Drs. Roper, Chaudhari) as well as via weekly joint laboratory meetings, periodic departmental
 seminars, and presenting findings at an annual campus neuroscience fair as well as a national
 conference (AChemS, SFN, or both).
 · allow Isabella to attend workshops and short courses in statistics, computation and molecular
 neuroscience provided by the university to extend her skill and knowledge set.
 · provide Isabella with an intense training background and portfolio of publication(s) to enable her to
 compete for a PhD program at a ranking national institution, with the ultimate goal of developing her
 own independent career as a neuroscient...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11117737
- **Project number:** 3R01DC018733-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Nirupa Chaudhari
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $43,250
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11117737

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11117737, Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research-Functions of gustatory afferent neuron types. (3R01DC018733-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11117737. Licensed CC0.

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