Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS)

摘要：儿童和青少年的健康是我国整体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年人的研究。在一定程度上，这反映了历史、文化和 倾向于将研究人员转移到儿科研究以外的职业的经济力量。要解决这个问题 关注，西北大学临床和翻译科学研究所(NUCATS)选择了独特的 专门培训年轻研究人员将工程解决方案应用于儿童健康问题的方法。 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，利用现代技术改善儿童和青少年的健康。中环 这一持续和非常成功的努力的重点是儿童和儿童的多学科培训计划 青少年健康TL1，它有三个具体目标。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，在一个创造性和多学科的环境中，研究人员 具备将创新工程方法应用于儿童和青少年健康问题的能力。同僚们 必须有儿科和工程学方面的导师。目前，他们的项目范围从计算机控制 提供全身麻醉或使用纳米技术治疗脑肿瘤，将机器学习应用于 优化排污规划。这一创新的研究体验得到了TL1指导的补充 领导力和博士后同行；必要的基础要素，这些要素促进 跨传统不同科学学科的通信；必需的选择性组件，分配给 个人研究员，以优化他们在儿科临床和转化科学方面的培训；以及 每个实习生都有可选的丰富机会。所有这些组件都包括说教和 体验式的方法。在目标2中，扩大进入儿童和青少年健康领域的工程师渠道 研究，我们将为以下人员提供2个为期一年的职位(1个由CTSA支持，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，特别是那些代表人数不足的人 少数民族，当他们完成他们的研究和写他们的论文。通过包括符合以下条件的工程实习生 对于CTS为我们的TL1博士后研究员提供的培训活动感兴趣，我们打算加强他们 对儿科翻译科学的潜在承诺。最后，在目标3中，我们将提供暑期研究 西北大学4名学生在传统大学攻读临床学士学位后课程的经验 代表性不足--少数群体机构。我们到目前为止的经验表明，随着我们在 在暑期的经历中，这些学生中的许多人都受到了启发，开始寻求翻译研究的职业。 这些目标共同勾勒出一个全面和成功的方案，以提高 研究人员应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.