TRAINING GRANT ON THE BIOLOGY OF AGING

描述(申请人提供)：该申请是一个新的培训计划，研究领域的科学家在遗传学的衰老，寿命干预分析动物模型，和年龄相关的疾病。博士后和博士后研究员(每年分别为10人和6人)将接受衰老生物学方面的培训。学员将参与的项目包括：基因表达的程序性变化；基因表达的体细胞突变和表观遗传学变化；自由基、DNA损伤和DNA修复；内分泌和免疫系统的老化；跨膜信号；细胞生长、分化和凋亡中的癌基因和肿瘤抑制基因；以及与年龄相关的疾病的分子方面，如阿尔茨海默病、帕金森氏病和前列腺增生和肿瘤。老龄化生物学课程和老年学当前主题的期刊俱乐部将为教学培训提供正式环境。老龄研讨会系列将是学员与在老龄领域工作的著名科学家互动的焦点。学员的选择将基于他们对年龄的兴趣，学术成就，以及从他们的学业成绩和推荐信中反映出来的对研究、教学和服务行业的职业动机。所有受训者和参与的教员将获得用于产生转基因小鼠的机构核心设施、生物统计学、重组DNA技术、杂交瘤、流式细胞仪显微分析和共聚焦显微镜。这项计划由27名教员培训人员组成，其中22人由NIA资助。其中两位是新招聘的助理教授，显然对老龄化感兴趣。这三名拥有其他资金的高级调查人员对老龄化感兴趣，参与了老龄课程的教学，并参加了期刊俱乐部，并提供了增加而不是重复其他培训人员的研究兴趣。因此，学员将有广泛的研究可供选择，他们将与证明其培训能力的个人合作。圣安东尼奥拥有独特的条件，可以进入该地区的本科大学，并从该地区的本科大学招收少数族裔，例如德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校和圣玛丽大学。我们将作出强有力的努力来做到这一点。对这一计划的支持完全有可能培养出一批急需的科学家，即未来的老年病学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is a new training program for research scientists in the areas of genetics of aging, lifespan intervention analyses in animal models, and age-related diseases. Pre- and post-doctoral fellows (10 and 6 per year respectively) will be trained in the biology of aging. The trainees will participate in projects involving: programmed changes in gene expression; somatic mutations and epigenetic changes in gene expression; free radicals, DNA damage and DNA repair; aging of endocrine and immune systems; transmembrane signaling; oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis; and the molecular aspects of age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and prostatic hyperplasia and neoplasia. The Biology of Aging course and journal clubs on current topics in gerontology will provide the formal setting for didactic training. The Aging Seminar Series will be the focal point of interactions of the trainees with eminent scientists working in the field of aging. Trainees will be selected based on their interest in aging, academic excellence, and motivation for careers in research, instruction and service as reflected from their academic records, and letters of recommendations. The Institutional core facilities for generating transgenic mice, biometry, recombinant DNA technology, hybridoma, flow cytometry microassay and confocal microscopy will be available to all trainees and the participating faculty. This program is comprised of 27 faculty trainers of whom 22 are funded by the NIA. Two are newly recruited Assistant Professors with a clear interest in aging. The three senior investigators with other funding are interested in aging, involved in teaching in the Aging course, and participating in the journal club, and provide research interests that add to, rather than duplicate, that of the other trainers. As a result, the trainees will have a broad range of research to choose from and they will work with individuals who have demonstrated their training ability. San Antonio has the unique situation of having access to and recruiting minorities from the undergraduate universities in the area, e.g., University of Texas at San Antonio and St. Mary's University. A strong effort will be made to do just this. Support of this program has all the potential of training a much needed group of scientists; the gerontologists of the future.