Translational Training in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Disorders

衰老和阿尔茨海默病相关疾病的转化训练 此更新申请旨在维持我们的T32支持的培训计划，以继续培训博士后研究员进行转化研究，重点是优化认知和身体功能与衰老和阿尔茨海默病相关疾病（ADRD）。自2009年以来，T32一直得到持续资助; 2019年11月，其范围和学员人数从3人增加到5人，包括与ADRD相关研究的具体培训，与新资助的P30阿尔茨海默病研究中心保持一致。自2009年T32开始以来，在已任命或待任命的19名受训人员中，有10人以ADRD为重点（53%）。自2019年T32修订为包括ADRD焦点以来，已任命或待任命的9名学员中，有6名以ADRD为焦点（66.7%）。在全国范围内，缺乏接受过适当技能培训的合格调查人员，以开展预防和治疗行动能力残疾，ADRD和其他导致老年人失去独立性的情况的研究。因此，我们的T32支持的学员的研究一直是，并将继续是，在推进知识有关预防认知和功能残疾和老年人的最佳保健工具。我们的T32培训计划的总体目标是通过提供以培训博士/医学博士研究员为中心的综合职业发展路径，帮助培养新一代研究人员，培养他们进行转化研究所需的技能和能力，重点是预防身体和认知残疾。重要的是，在维克森林医学院（WFSM）老年学和老年医学科以及支持ADRC和Pepper老年人独立中心内，衰老和ADRD研究的独特和无缝集成提供了理想的环境，以促进学员了解身体和认知功能中衰老和ADRD相关变化的生物学贡献和风险因素，以及它们之间的相互联系我们的学者获得1）在衰老和脑生物学，老年科学和ADRD领域的科学知识; 2）成功和道德地进行临床前实验，临床试验和/或与衰老和ADRD相关的纵向队列研究所需的能力; 3）认知和/或身体残疾结果测量的经验和专业知识;（4）符合个人兴趣的具体技术或方法技能。这种培训将使他们能够成功地过渡到早期的教师职位，并具有很强的竞争力，以获得新的资金，继续他们走向独立的道路。随着目前的研究组合资助赠款总额为7396万美元的直接成本（5570万美元从NIA）授予我们的T32计划教师，我们有科学的专业知识，资源和研究机会，可用于培训下一代研究人员在老龄化和ADRD研究的成功。

Translational Training in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Disorders This renewal application seeks to sustain our T32-supported Training Program to continue training postdoctoral fellows in the conduct of translational research focused on optimizing cognitive and physical function with aging and Alzheimer’s disease-related disorders (ADRD). This T32 has been continuously funded since 2009; in November, 2019, its scope and number of trainees increased from 3 to 5 fellows to include specific training in research related to ADRD, in alignment with the newly funded P30 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Of the 19 trainees appointed or who are pending appointment since the T32 began in 2009, 10 have an ADRD focus (53%). Of the 9 trainees appointed or who are pending appointment since the T32 was revised to include an ADRD focus in 2019, 6 have an ADRD focus (66.7%).Nationwide, there is a dearth of competent investigators trained in the appropriate skills to conduct research on prevention and treatment of mobility disability, ADRD, and other conditions that lead to loss of independence with aging. Thus, the research of our T32-supported trainees has been, and will continue to be, instrumental in advancing knowledge regarding the prevention of cognitive and functional disability and the best health care for older adults. The overall goal of our T32 Training Program is to help develop a new generation of researchers by providing an integrated career development path centered on training PhD/MD fellows in the skills and competencies needed to conduct translational research with a focus on the prevention of physical and cognitive disability. Importantly, the unique and seamless integration of both aging and ADRD research within the Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM) Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, and the supporting ADRC and Pepper Older Adult Independence Center, provides the ideal environment to facilitate trainees’ knowledge of the biological contributions and risk factors for aging- and ADRD-related changes in physical and cognitive function, and their inter-connectedness. Our scholars acquire 1) scientific knowledge in the fields of aging and brain biology, geroscience, and ADRD; 2) competencies needed to successfully and ethically conduct preclinical experiments, clinical trials, and/or longitudinal cohort studies of relevance to aging and ADRD; 3) experience and expertise in the measurement of cognitive and/or physical disability outcomes; and 4) specific technical or methodological skills in line with their individual interests. This training will place them in a position to successfully transition to an early-stage faculty position and to be highly competitive for new funding to continue their path towards independence. With a current research portfolio of funded grants totaling $73.96 million in direct costs ($55.7 million from NIA) awarded to our T32 Program Faculty, we have the scientific expertise, resources, and research opportunities available for training the next generation of investigators for success in aging and ADRD research.