CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR DETERMINANTS OF BIRTH DEFECTS

描述这是一个更新的应用程序在出生缺陷的分子和细胞机制领域的三个博士前和一个博士后研究培训职位。杰斐逊医学院拥有一个领先的出生缺陷研究学术中心。该方法是跨学科的，教师的研究兴趣分为四个重叠的类别：1）介导特定发育转变的细胞信号; 2）参与出生缺陷发病机制的信号转导事件; 3）发育过程中胚胎基因组的结构和功能;和4）发育和生殖毒性的机制。这项研究计划反映了越来越多的证据表明，出生缺陷最好被理解为是基因和环境相互作用的结果。该提案的目标是培训一流的基础科学家，使他们能够利用当代方法来解决胚胎/胎儿正常和异常发育的分子和细胞机制问题。该领域目前由研究人员组成，他们的主要培训是在发育生物学和畸形学以外的领域，而对发育毒理学和分子致畸学专家的需求正在增长。一个新的硕士课程在发育生物学和畸形学成立于1997年。虽然MS和博士计划将平行运作，这项培训补助金将不会用于支持硕士水平的学生。学院的资金是广泛的。总共有54项活动中的赠款，每年直接费用超过700万美元，还有30项赠款有待提供，每年直接费用总额超过300万美元。这些赠款在与培训补助金有关的教师中分布良好，反映了广泛的研究主题，涵盖与神经系统，骨骼系统，上皮组织，肌肉组织，视觉器官等发育相关的机制。机制包括钙转运，信号转导，参与特定缺陷的基因等。研究的环境毒物包括镉，酒精，维生素A，和肉毒杆菌毒素。证据表明，这是一个领先的分子致畸中心。在提出申请时，托马斯杰斐逊大学还有12项培训赠款（其中3项将于1997年到期）。参与这项补助金的教师参与了十二个中的五个，但重叠最少。

DESCRIPTION This is a renewal application for three predoctoral and one postdoctoral research training positions in the area of molecular and cellular mechanisms of birth defects. The Jefferson Medical College houses a leading academic center for birth defects research. The approach is interdisciplinary, with faculty research interests falling into four overlapping categories: 1) cellular signals that mediate specific developmental transitions; 2) signal transduction events involved in pathogenesis of birth defects; 3) structure and function of the embryonic genome during development; and 4) mechanisms of developmental and reproductive toxicity. The research program reflects the growing evidence that birth defects are best understood as resulting from the interactions of genes and environment. The objective of the proposal is to train first rate basic scientists so that they are able to utilize contemporary approaches to address questions of molecular and cellular mechanisms of both normal and abnormal development of the embryo/fetus. The field is currently populated by investigators whose primary training is in areas other than developmental biology and teratology, while the need for specialists in developmental toxicology and molecular teratogenesis is growing. A new Masters Program in Developmental Biology and Teratology was established in 1997. Although the M.S. and Ph.D. programs will function in parallel, this training grant will not be used to support Masters-level students. Funding for the faculty is extensive. A total of 54 active grants generated amount to over $7 million annually in direct costs, with 30 grants pending for a total of over $3 million annually in direct costs. These grants are well distributed across the faculty who are affiliated with the training grant and reflect the wide array of research topics covering mechanisms related to developmental of the neural system, the skeletal system, epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, organs of vision, etc. Mechanisms include calcium transport, signal transduction, genes involved in specific defects, etc. Environmental toxicants studied include cadmium, alcohol, vitamin A, and botulinum toxin. Evidence is presented demonstrating that this is a leading focused center for molecular teratogenesis. Twelve other training grants were current at Thomas Jefferson University at the time of application, (three were due to expire in 1997). Faculty involved in this grant are involved in five of the twelve but there is minimal overlap.