Multidisciplinary Visual Sciences Training Program

在过去的5年里，基础和临床视觉科学之间的融合令人惊叹。基本 光遗传学、转录组学、干细胞生物学、病毒转导、血管生成和成像的进展 在临床上都有应用。这个项目的基本原理是， 未来，今天的受训者，需要有多学科的背景，以便精通基本的 科学和临床应用。西北大学多学科视野的主要目标 培训计划是准备前和博士后学员在视觉研究的独立职业生涯 广义上定义为包括：包括角膜和Schlemm's在内的前眼的疾病和功能 管;视网膜神经元和血管系统的疾病和机制;以及，中央视网膜的处理 目标区域，包括那些介导瞳孔反应、调节和昼夜变化的区域。这 该提案通过整合实验室，利用西北大学现有的多学科研究基地 组成一个有凝聚力的单位来训练16位导师提供细胞和分子研究培训 生物学，视觉系统的神经生物学，遗传学，先进显微镜，干细胞生物学和类器官 文化，前眼和后眼疾病，以及基于证据的治疗结果分析， 医疗保健服务。资助3名博士前候选人，在他们开始全职论文后 研究，和1名博士后实习生，在培训的早期或中期阶段，是必需的。博士预科 学员的招聘是基于课程的表现，轮换评估，以及建议的相关性。 西北大学综合神经科学（NUIN）项目的论文研究， 跨部门生物科学（IBIS）计划，Driskill生命科学研究生计划（DGP）， 生物医学工程（BME）研究生课程。最多支持两个预博士和博士后 根据研究进展而定。主任和指导委员会评价和挑选受训人员 从合格的博士后和预科生中挑选该培训方案还教育受训人员的道德操守， 科学和负责任的研究行为。主要重点是从以下人员中招聘学员- 代表少数群体进行视觉研究。每个受训者的计划由受训者决定， 导师和指导委员会，制定个人发展计划。项目总监是 史蒂文·H DeVries，医学博士，博士，教授和大卫E。Shoch眼科和生理学主席。在 除了研究培训外，该计划还提供了一个课程，其中包括两个关于血管的正式课程， 生物学和视网膜电路（博士前学员必须选择至少一个），一个2季度的演示系列，题为 视觉高级主题，邀请全国知名研究人员的讲座，以及研究日。很长的- 长期目标是教育学员谁将继续作为独立的，富有成效的，和道德的调查 世界卫生组织将致力于视觉研究的国家优先事项。

The past 5 years have witnessed a stunning convergence between basic and clinical visual science. Basic advances in optogenetics, transcriptomics, stem cell biology, viral transduction, angiogenesis, and imaging have all seen application in the clinical setting. The rationale for this program is that the ideal visual scientist of the future, today’s trainee, needs to have a multidisciplinary background so as to be well-versed in both basic science and clinical applications. The major aim of the Northwestern University Multidisciplinary Vision Training Program is to prepare pre- and postdoctoral trainees for independent careers in vision research broadly defined to include: diseases and functions of the anterior eye including the cornea and Schlemm’s canal; diseases and mechanisms of the retinal neurons and vasculature; and, processing by central retinal target areas including those mediating pupillary responses, accommodation, and circadian entrainment. This proposal leverages the existing multidisciplinary research base at Northwestern University by integrating labs into a cohesive unit for the purposes of training. The 16 preceptors offer research training in cell and molecular biology, neurobiology of the visual system, genetics, advanced microscopy, stem cell biology and organoid culture, diseases of the anterior and posterior eye, and evidenced based analysis of treatment outcomes and healthcare delivery. Funding to support 3 predoctoral candidates, after they have begun full time thesis research, and 1 postdoctoral trainee, in the early or middle stages of training, is requested. The predoctoral trainees are recruited on the basis of course performance, rotation evaluations, and relevance of the proposed dissertation research from the Northwestern University Integrated Neuroscience (NUIN) program, the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences (IBiS) program, the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences (DGP), and the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Graduate Program. Pre- and post-docs are supported for up to two years contingent on research progress. The Director and Steering Committee evaluates and selects trainees from among the eligible pre- and post-docs. The training program also educates trainees in the ethics of science and responsible conduct of research. Major emphasis is placed on recruiting trainees from under- represented minority groups to vision research. The program for each trainee is determined by the trainee, preceptor, and Steering Committee who formulate an individual development plan. The Program Director is Steven H. DeVries, MD, PhD, Professor and David E. Shoch Chair of Ophthalmology and Physiology. In addition to research training, the program offers a curriculum that includes two formal courses on vascular biology and retinal circuits (pre-doc trainees must choose at least one), a 2 quarter presentation series entitled Advanced Topics in Vision, invited lectures by nationally known researchers, and a Research Day. The long- term objective is to educate trainees who will continue as independent, productive, and ethical investigators and who will address national priorities in vision research.