# Multidisciplinary Training in Brain Disorders and Development

> **NIH NIH T32** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $307,083

## Abstract

The goal of this postdoctoral training program is to train young scientists and promote careers focused on
understanding and developing treatments for developmental brain disorders. Multidisciplinary training is
planned in scientific disciplines relevant to the study of neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, 31 training
faculty have been selected from 7 departments. They include: 5 MDs, 6 MD/PhDs and 20 PhDs. There
are: 16 Professors, 9 Associate Professors and 6 Assistant Professors. There are currently 119
postdoctoral students training in laboratories of the faculty. This training program is now based in the
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (The NRI) which has become a major center for
the study of developmental brain abnormalities and shares the goals of this training program. Dr. John
Swann will continue to serve as the Program Director and will be responsible for the day-to-day operation
of the program. Dr. Huda Zoghbi will continue to serve as co-director. Major areas of training include
the genetic and molecular basis of neurodevelopmental disorders including but not limited to: Autism,
Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome and Lysosomal Storage Diseases. Another concentrated area of
training is in epilepsy where the molecular bases of the inherited as well as acquired epilepsies are studied.
The labs employ cutting edge biotechnology to study human disorders and create relevant animals models
of disease in order to not only understand the molecular basis for these disorders but to screen potential
new therapies that could lead to clinical trials and eventually enter clinical practice. Over the past 14
years of support, 38 postdoctoral students have entered our training program. From the first 10 years of
grant support, 18 of 23 trainees (78%) became faculty members at major universities. Twenty-six percent
of our trainees have been from diversity groups. Four of them are now faculty members and 2 are
scientists working in industry. We have also trained 5 MD/PhD child neurologists that have been
awarded K08 grants and are now pursuing research careers. Three training tracks are offered. One is for
PhDs who receive substantial training in clinical aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders through dinner
discussions, clinical conferences and subspecialty clinics. Another is for MD/PhDs and MDs with
substantial research experience. MDs with little research experience receive more formal training which
includes laboratory rotations and graduate courses. A number of unique shared training opportunities are
being offered to our trainees including the new Workshops for Postdocs. By training outstanding research
scientists, we feel new understandings and treatments for the devastating neurological disorders of infants
and young children will emerge.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9978129
- **Project number:** 5T32NS043124-19
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** John William Swann
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $307,083
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978129, Multidisciplinary Training in Brain Disorders and Development (5T32NS043124-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978129. Licensed CC0.

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