Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS)

摘要：儿童和青少年的健康是我国整个国家健康的关键决定因素 生命历程然而，对儿童健康的研究落后于成人。在某种程度上，这反映了历史、文化和 经济力量倾向于将研究人员转移到儿科研究以外的职业中。为了解决这个 关注，西北大学临床和转化科学研究所（NUCATS）选择了独特的 专门培训年轻研究人员的方法，以应用工程解决方案解决儿童健康问题。 我们的总体目标是建立一个由儿科医生、数据科学家和工程师组成的社区， 跨学科，利用现代技术来改善儿童和青少年的健康。中央 这一持续和非常成功的努力的重点是这个多学科的培训计划，在儿童和 青少年健康TL 1，有三个具体目标。在目标1中，我们将培训10名博士后研究员， 科学或儿科两年，在一个创造性的和多学科的环境中，研究人员 配备了创新的工程方法，以解决儿童和青少年健康问题。老乡 必须在儿科和工程学上都有导师目前，他们的项目范围从计算机控制的 全身麻醉或使用纳米技术治疗脑肿瘤，将机器学习应用于 优化出院计划。这种创新的研究经验是由TL 1的指导补充 领导和他们的博士后同行;所需的基本要素，促进 跨传统上不同的科学学科的通信;需要选择的组件，分配给 个别研究员，以优化他们在儿科临床和转化科学的培训;和菜单， 丰富的机会，是可选的每个学员。所有这些组成部分都包括教学和 经验方法。在目标2中，扩大进入儿童和青少年健康领域的工程师队伍 研究，我们将提供2个，一年的职位（1个由CTSA和1个由机构基金支持）， 博士前工程师进入博士培训的最后一年，特别是那些代表性不足的人 少数民族，因为他们完成他们的研究和写论文。包括工程实习生， 感兴趣的CTS在培训活动提供给我们的TL 1博士后研究员，我们打算提高他们的 对儿科转化科学的潜在承诺。最后，在目标3中，我们将提供一个夏季研究 在西北大学为4名学生在传统的临床学士后课程的经验， 代表性不足的少数民族机构。我们迄今为止的经验表明， 在暑期的经历中，许多学生受到启发，寻求翻译研究的职业。 总之，这些目标概述了一个全面和成功的计划，以增加数量和质量， 研究人员采用创新方法改善儿童和青少年健康。

ABSTRACT: The health of children and adolescents is a critical determinant of our nation's health over the entire life course. Yet, research into child health lags behind that for adults. In part, this reflects historical, cultural and economic forces that tend to divert investigators into careers other than pediatric research. To address this concern, the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) chose the unique approach of specifically training young investigators to apply engineering solutions to problems in child health. Our overall goal is to generate a community of pediatricians, data scientists and engineers who collaborate across disciplines, using modern technology to improve the health of children and adolescents. The central focus of this continuing and highly successful effort is this Multidisciplinary Training Program in Child and Adolescent Health TL1, which has three specific aims. In Aim 1, we will train 10 postdoctoral fellows in basic science or pediatrics for two years, in a creative and multidisciplinary environment where investigators are equipped to apply innovative engineering approaches to problems in child and adolescent health. The fellows must have a mentor in both pediatrics and engineering. Presently, their projects range from computer-controlled delivery of general anesthesia or using nanotechnology to treat brain tumors, to applying machine learning to optimize discharge planning. This innovative research experience is complemented by mentoring from the TL1 leadership and from their postdoctoral-fellow peers; required foundational elements, which promote communication across traditionally disparate scientific disciplines; required selective components, assigned to individual fellows to optimize their training in pediatric clinical and translational science; and a menu of enrichment opportunities that are optional for each trainee. All of these components include both didactic and experiential approaches. In Aim 2, to expand the pipeline of engineers entering child and adolescent health research, we will provide 2, one-year positions (1 supported by the CTSA and 1 by institutional funds) for predoctoral engineers entering the last year of PhD training, especially those representing underrepresented minorities, as they complete their research and write their thesis. By including engineering trainees who are interested in CTS in the training activities available to our TL1 postdoctoral fellows, we intend to enhance their potential commitment to pediatric translational science. Finally, in Aim 3, we will provide a summer research experience at Northwestern for 4 students in clinical post-baccalaureate programs at a traditionally underrepresented-minority institution. Our experience to date suggests that, with our ongoing involvement after the summer experience, many of these students have been inspired to seek careers in translational research. Together, these aims outline a comprehensive and successful program to increase the number and quality of investigators applying innovative approaches to improving child and adolescent health.