TRAINING GRANT ON THE BIOLOGY OF AGING

描述（由申请人提供）：此申请是针对衰老遗传学，动物模型寿命干预分析和年龄相关疾病领域的研究科学家的新培训计划。将在衰老生物学方面培训前、博士后（每年分别为10名和6名）。学员将参与的项目涉及：基因表达的程序化改变；基因表达的体细胞突变和表观遗传改变；自由基，DNA损伤和DNA修复；内分泌和免疫系统老化；跨膜信号;肿瘤基因和抑癌基因在细胞生长、分化和凋亡中的作用以及与年龄相关的疾病，如阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、前列腺增生和肿瘤的分子方面。老年生物学课程和关于老年学当前主题的期刊俱乐部将为教学培训提供正式的环境。老龄化系列研讨会将是学员与在老龄化领域工作的杰出科学家互动的焦点。研修生将根据他们的学习成绩和推荐信所反映的对老龄化的兴趣、学术成就以及对研究、指导和服务事业的动机来选择。该机构的核心设施包括转基因小鼠、生物计量学、重组DNA技术、杂交瘤、流式细胞术微测定和共聚焦显微镜，将向所有学员和参与的教师开放。该项目由27名教师培训师组成，其中22名由NIA资助。两位是新招募的助理教授，他们对衰老有明显的兴趣。其他基金资助的三位高级研究员对老龄化感兴趣，参与了老龄化课程的教学，并参加了期刊俱乐部，他们提供的研究兴趣是对其他培训师的兴趣的补充，而不是重复。因此，受训者将有广泛的研究选择，他们将与已经证明其培训能力的个人合作。圣安东尼奥有一个独特的情况，可以从该地区的本科大学，如德克萨斯大学圣安东尼奥分校和圣玛丽大学招收少数民族。我们将为此作出强有力的努力。对这个项目的支持有可能培养出一批急需的科学家；未来的老年学家。

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.