Training in the Molecular Basis of Autoimmunity and Autoinflammation

摘要 在过去的15年里，我们对复杂机制的理解发生了范式转变， 自身免疫性疾病与先天性和适应性免疫之间的相互作用有了更大的了解 系统成分，导致先天性和适应性免疫介导的组织破坏的机制， 动物模型与人类疾病的相关性，以及产生功能性移植所需的因素 组织.利用所有这些见解并开发新的治疗策略， 反应，并允许修复和/或替换受损器官，将需要下一代的 对基础免疫学、细胞生物学、分子生物学、系统生物学有广泛了解的科学家 和信息学。拟议的自身免疫和自身炎症分子基础培训将培训 在这些重要领域的博士前研究人员汇集了高技能和协作的导师 来自多个学科，最终目标是为这些使人衰弱的疾病开发新的疗法。我们 我还了解到，一系列易感基因在自身免疫性疾病中是共享的，这表明 共同的道路。更好地了解这些易感基因如何促进耐受性的丧失， 高反应性也将是有效治疗自身免疫性疾病的关键。训练调查人员 为了应对科学探究的这些挑战，我们的培训环境必须包含跨学科的主题， 提供该领域最先进的研究机会，并提供其他方面的培训 职业发展。因此，本计划的具体目标将是：（1）提供优秀的博士学位 候选人的概念和技术技能，以解决有意义的，临床相关的主题领域 自身免疫;（2）促进学员和培训教师之间的沟通和协作互动; (3)为将研究发现转化为临床提供机会;（4）建立机制， 招聘更多人数不足的少数民族担任该机构的博士后职位;（5） 为学员提供强有力的口头报告，手稿写作，赠款写作，网络和其他必要的 职业发展技能;（6）为学员提供参加地方、国家和 国际会议，他们可以分享自己的研究成果。这个项目非常交叉- 纪律，包括18名有成就的调查员作为导师，他们代表了广泛的 正在应用于自身免疫/自身炎症研究的研究专业知识和技术 条件培训教师包括从事基础和翻译的MD和MD-PhD科学家， 以疾病为导向的研究教师们已经参与了富有成效的合作， 博士前培训的丰富经验。该计划的共同主任将建议由双方的培训 教师和外部咨询委员会由杰出的科学家/培训补助金主任组成， 对自身免疫和自身炎症感兴趣。重要的是，项目主任将与 UMMS职业发展办公室将提供关键职业技能培训， 将他们的研究成果带到成功的学术生涯中。

ABSTRACT The past 15 years has seen a paradigm shift in our understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases with a greater understanding of the interplay between innate and adaptive immune system components, the mechanisms that lead to innate and adaptive immune mediated tissue destruction, the relevance of animal models to human disease, and the factors needed to generate functional transplant tissue. To capitalize on all of these insights and develop novel therapeutic strategies that block autoreactive responses and also permit the repair and/or replacement of damaged organs, will require a next generation of scientists with a broad understanding of basic immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, systems biology and informatics. The proposed Training in the Molecular Basis of Autoimmunity and Autoinflammation will train predoctoral investigators in these important areas by bringing together highly skilled and collaborative mentors from multiple disciplines, with the ultimate goal of developing new therapies for these debilitating diseases. We have also learned that an array of susceptibility genes are shared among autoimmune diseases, indicative of common pathways. A better understanding of how these susceptibility genes promote the loss of tolerance and hyperreactivity will also be key to effective treatments for autoimmune diseases. To train investigators to meet these challenges of scientific inquiry, our training environments must embrace cross-disciplinary themes and provide both state-of-the-art research opportunities in this area, and also provide training in other aspects of career development. Therefore, the specific goals of this program will be to: (1) provide talented PhD candidates with conceptual and technological skills to tackle meaningful, clinically relevant topics in the area of autoimmunity; (2) facilitate communication and collaborative interactions amongst trainees and training faculty; (3) provide opportunities for the translation of research discoveries to the clinics; (4) establish mechanisms for recruiting increased numbers underrepresented minorities to postdoctoral positions at this institution; (5) provide trainees with strong oral presentation, manuscript writing, grant writing, networking, and other essential career development skills; and (6) provide trainees with opportunities to participate in local, national, and international meetings where they can share their own research findings. The program is highly cross- disciplinary, incorporating 18 accomplished investigators as mentors who represent a broad spectrum of research expertise and technologies that are being applied to the study of autoimmune/autoinflammatory conditions. The training faculty includes MD and MD-PhD scientists engaged in basic and translational, disease-oriented research. Faculty members are already involved in highly productive collaborations and have extensive experience in predoctoral training. The program co-directors will be advised by both the training faculty and an External Advisory Committee comprised of distinguished scientists/training grant directors with interests in autoimmunity and autoinflammation. Importantly, the program directors will work closely with the UMMS Office of Career Development to provide training in critical career skills that will further enable trainees to carry their research accomplishments forward to successful academic careers.