The F31 Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Grant Award enables promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Third year Ph.D. candidate Kyle Saitta will perform research guided under his mentor Dr. Cheryl Dreyfus and co-mentor Dr. Long-Jun Wu to define the effects of a small molecule, metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, in a cuprizone toxicity model of demyelination in mice. With the aid of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award he will be able to study the mechanisms involved in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and identify potential pharmacological targets to treat affected patients.