Physical Genomics and Engineering Training Program

项目摘要/摘要 物理基因组学博士前培训计划(PGTP)的使命是培养下一代 跨学科的科学家将在分子生物学、生物工程、物理学、光学、化学和 医药。通过麦考密克工程与应用学院项目教员的合作 科学，范伯格医学院和温伯格艺术与科学学院，PGTP的目标是 使受训人员能够获得并应用广泛的技能，解决生命系统的物理操纵问题 在寻求治疗疾病的新战略方面。 物理基因组学是一个新的领域，它涉及到了解结构、功能和基本原理 染色质，一组复杂折叠的大分子，包括DNA、RNA和蛋白质 细胞内的遗传信息，并决定哪些基因被抑制或表达。有了这个 了解了这一点，研究人员可以可逆地调节、控制甚至重新编程基因的全球模式 在不改变基因本身的情况下表达。这对治疗这样的疾病有广泛的影响 由于癌症和阿尔茨海默氏症以及其他潜在的应用，如提高作物产量和缓解 气候变化对植物和珊瑚礁的影响。 PGTP将部署一系列策略，帮助学员将实践经验与 推进物理基因组学研究所需的知识库。通过基于证据的方法来 培训，受训者将参加体验式学习和研讨会，重点是重新编程染色质以 使用突破性的光学技术治疗疾病和设计生命系统，以克服环境挑战 成像、计算基因组学和分子生物学。受训者将由教职员工指导， 出色的工作效率和指导能力。计划导师将提供持续的审查、评估和 指导受训人员，目标是培养一支有韧性的、多样化的科学专业人员队伍。 调节染色质物理结构的能力代表着生物学发现和 有可能成为21世纪生物技术的主要驱动力之一。PGTP的目标是将其 作为下一代跨学科生物医学领导者的学员能够通过 出色的身体基因组学培训经验。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The mission of the “Physical Genomics Predoctoral Training Program” (PGTP) is to train the next generation of transdisciplinary scientists that will bridge molecular biology, bioengineering, physics, optics, chemistry, and medicine. Through collaboration of program faculty in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Feinberg School of Medicine and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, the PGTP aims to enable trainees to acquire and apply a broad skillset that addresses the physical manipulation of living systems in the pursuit of new strategies for the treatment of disease. Physical genomics is a new field that involves understanding the structure, function, and fundamental principles of chromatin, an intricately folded group of macromolecules including DNA, RNA, and proteins that houses genetic information within cells and determines which genes get suppressed or expressed. With this understanding, researchers can reversibly regulate, control, and even reprogram global patterns of gene expression without altering the genes themselves. This has wide implications in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s and other potential applications such as improving crop yields and mitigating the impact of climate change on plants and coral reefs. The PGTP will deploy a range of strategies to help trainees integrate practical, hands-on experience with the knowledge base required to advance research in physical genomics. Through an evidence-based approach to training, trainees will participate in experiential learning and seminars focused on reprogramming chromatin to treat disease and engineer living systems to overcome environmental challenges using breakthrough optical imaging, computational genomics, and molecular biology. The trainees will be mentored by faculty with an outstanding record of productivity and mentorship. Program mentors will provide ongoing review, evaluation, and mentoring of trainees with the goal of creating a resilient, diverse cadre of scientific professionals. The ability to regulate the physical structure of chromatin represents a new frontier in biological discovery and has the potential to be one of the major drivers of 21st-century biotechnology. The PGTP aims to position its trainees as the next generation of interdisciplinary biomedical leaders able to explore this frontier through an exceptional training experience in physical genomics.