Doctoral and Post-doctoral Training in Craniofacial Biology

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Contact PD/PI: Paine, Michael Lansdell PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The future of dental education and support for biomedical research require investment in the selection and training of tomorrow's scientists, including basic, translational and clinical researchers. One of the stated goals of the NIDCR is to “ensure that a diverse network of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs”. In an effort to achieve this goal, we are seeking renewal of our NIDCR-sponsored Institutional Training Program in Oral Health Research, which provides an array of training opportunities in craniofacial health research. This grant thus requests support to provide education and intensive, integrated research training for a select cadre of scholars seeking either a PhD degree or postdoctoral training (for both DDS/MD and PhD graduates) with a major focus on dental, oral and craniofacial health and disease. Only the most highly qualified and motivated predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates will be selected for T90/R90 support. The T90 and R90 award components will allow us to continue to train U.S. citizens and permanent residents as well as non-permanent residents, who bring a global perspective. International scholars, clinician-scientists and underrepresented minorities have made, and will continue to make, significant contributions to dental and craniofacial research and teaching, serving as outstanding role models. We will continue to emphasize selection of qualified, exceptional candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to further enhance diversity in the biomedical workplace. At a time when inclusion and understanding have never been more important, fostering a diverse cohort of academic researchers is a core component of our mission to prepare this next generation of leaders. Outstanding predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees will be interviewed and chosen by an Internal Steering Committee (ISC) for an initial 12-month period of support, and provided they demonstrate satisfactory progress, will be awarded support for another 12 months. Program oversight will be from the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, the ISC, and an advisory External Steering Committee (ESC). Trainee mentors will be primarily tenured faculty from either the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (Ostrow) or the Keck School of Medicine (Keck) of USC. Mentors have been selected using two simple criteria: 1) they maintain active research profiles and have a significant history of successful mentorship, and/or 2) they have current independent research funding from the NIDCR, which serves as a strong indication that their research interests are in alignment with the stated goals of the NIDCR. During the T90/R90 appointment period trainees will enroll in grant writing classes, attend seminars and workshops, and submit a competitive peer-reviewed grant application. Both Ostrow and the Provost's Office at USC remain fully committed to this and similar federally supported NRSA training grants, and will ensure that additional financial support is in place to achieve all stated outcomes. Project Summary/Abstract Page 7 Contact PD/PI: Paine, Michael Lansdell