Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center Investigators

The IDDRC at Baylor College of Medicine currently supports the research of over 40 investigators studying abnormalities in human development. The joint benefits of improved diagnosis, better patient care, and deeper understanding of human biology have come directly from IDDRC support for research leading to the discovery of the molecular basis of Stargardt syndrome, Miller-Dieker syndrome, glycerol kinase deficiency, 1p36 deletion syndrome, Smith-Magenis disease, Prader-Willi Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome, among others. The IDDRC has been a crucial player in all these discoveries, and Baylor College of Medicine's technological advances — multicolor FISH, genetic engineering in the mouse, shot-gun cloning and large-scale sequencing —have in turn strengthened the ability of the cores to support Baylor’s research endeavors and laid the groundwork for Baylor’s Human Genome Sequencing Center. The cores for neuropathological analysis, embryonic stem cell work, generating transgenic mice and performing neurobehavioral and synaptic plasticity analyses (to name a few) concentrate expertise and make it accessible to investigators who would otherwise have to find ways to import these technologies and develop these skills in their own labs. The IDDRC is an impressive venue for facilitating research in a cost-efficient way.

Baylor College of Medicine IDDRC investigators are able to utilize the core facilities at a reduced cost to aid in their individual research.

The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine supports the research of College investigators through the IDDRC Cores which concentrate expertise being accessible to investigators who would otherwise have to find ways to import these technologies and develop these skills in their own labs. The IDDRC is thus an impressive venue for facilitating research in a cost-efficient way.

To apply to become an IDDRC investigator, fill out the application form, and email it to Kelli Baalman Ahmed, Ph.D. at baalman@bcm.edu.

Benefits of IDDRC Membership

• Access to IDDRC member rates for use of core facilities
• Access to expert consultation on experimental design, data analysis and conceptual/technical advice provided by core staff
• Opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration within and across the IDDRC network
• Ability to become integrated into the community of researchers, physicians and physician scientists working towards basic science, translational and clinical efforts to improve the understanding, treatment and care for people with IDD
• Information provided through an email listserv disseminating details of upcoming special lectures, seminars and events

You must acknowledge the NIH grant for the Baylor IDDRC: U54HD083092, as well as the cores you used for your research, in all your new related publications. Include an acknowledgment of NIH grant support and disclaimer such as “The project described was supported by Award Number U54HD083092 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development or the National Institutes of Health."

We require that investigators have active funding to use the core services at the IDDRC discounted rate. However, core services are available for any BCM investigator at the full rate.

IDDRC Progress Report

Note: Each year, at the time of the IDDRC progress report, you will be asked for the following:

• To update information about your project(s)
• A list of related publications during the past year
• A list of related collaborations outside Baylor (if any)
• A few words relating any exciting research in the past year that occurred with your research project(s)