PROGRAM OF RESEARCH TRAINING IN REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

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EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. The purpose of this established and growing interdisciplinary program is to train postdoctoral and predoctoral fellows in the molecular biology, endocrinology, molecular genetics, and integrative physiology of reproduction. There are 17 postdoctoral and 51 predoctoral trainees, and they have background experience in one or more biological disciplines, such as endocrinology, reproductive biology, neurobiology and molecular biology. Fifteen faculty members, who areappointed in four discipline-related departments - Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular andIntegrative Physiology, and Veterinary Biosciences (some faculty are cross-appointed in Cell and Structural Biology) - provide great breadth and depth in research training opportunities. Current projects on all classes of reproductive hormones cover many aspects of both male and female reproductive biology. Studies are conducted on both small and large animals at the molecular, cellular, organ, and whole animal levels. Ongoing research projects relate directly to major national health-related objectives, such as regulating male and female fertility, arresting the growth of hormone- dependent mammary and prostate cancer, providing postmenopausal protection from bone demineralization, understanding the causes of and securing treatment for endometriosis and uterine fibroids, preventing prolonged and difficult delivery, and characterizing substances within the environment that disrupt the reproductive system. Postdoctoral trainees are involved principally in independent original research, and they generally complete their training in 3-4 years. Predoctoral trainees take courses in endocrinology and physiology of reproduction as well as related topics, such as biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, and statistics before beginning independent research. The majority of the 4-5 years that are generally required to complete predoctoral training is spent conducting independent research. Trainees and staff participate in a weekly research conference to discuss research proposals and progress. They also gain a solid understanding of research areas beyond that in which they are engaged by participating weekly in an advanced endocrinology seminar. In this seminar, students and staff present critical reviews and current advances in a specific research area throughout a 15-week period. Twice each year faculty and trainees participate in instruction in the responsible conduct of research. Trainees attend and present papers at national scientific meetings. Scientists from other institutions visit our laboratories to consult with students and faculty and to present seminars. Faculty laboratories are capable of supporting a diverse training program because they are large, modern and well equipped. They are equipped for research that involves a variety of molecular biology techniques as well as procedures in protein isolation and characterization, histology, autoradiography, tissue culture, and hormone assays. The University also provides the following modern research facilities that support biomedical research: Animal Care Units (housing and surgery facilities for small and large animals), Immunological Resource Center, Protein Sciences Facility (sequence determination, peptide synthesis and mass spectrometry), Flow Cytometry Facility, W. M. Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics (microarray technologies, DNA sequencing, oligonucleotide synthesis, functional genomics, high throughput sequencing, and bioinformatics), Beckman Imaging Technology Group and the Center for Microscopic Imaging. Financial support is sought for three postdoctoral and five predoctoral trainees. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================