Interdisciplinary Research Training in Reproduction for Indian Fellows

描述（由申请人提供）：这种竞争性的继续申请要求支持培训三名博士科学家或后住院医师[MD或博士/MD]，在印度的两个合作机构担任职位，从事生殖研究的调查工作。重点将放在生殖的细胞和分子生物学方面的培训，包括针对不育症的翻译部分和发现避孕药的新线索。每两次怀孕中就有一次是意外怀孕，这突出表明全球需要新的避孕选择。使用已知的避孕药具以及推广新的避孕方法是最高优先事项。该培训计划培养生物医学科学家，他们可以通过为他们提供工具来调查管理生殖过程的基本机制来应对避孕发现的挑战，认识到这些基本知识为识别候选避孕途径和靶分子提供的机会，并测试新的避孕策略。研究和教学经验是量身定制的，以适应来自不同专业和学术背景的学员。提供补充教学，包括生物统计学，英语科学目的，以提高写作和沟通技巧，重组DNA技术，结构基因组学，药理学，生物伦理学和药物发现，设计，合成和选择课程。跨学科研究培训是通过与在基础和临床部门任职的导师互动，通过评估线索和建立避孕行动原则证明的方案，以及通过与工业顾问合作来实现的。所有导师都在医学院或艺术与科学学院担任教职，并至少指导一项积极的研究补助金。机构环境通过研讨会，访问教授，会议和专业研究核心的丰富组合促进互动和交流。教师研究项目的广泛的基本主题包括：精卵融合的分子分析，膜受体之间的信号转导机制，精子获能和顶体反应，蛋白质转录，核转录因子，离子通道的分子生理学，生殖机制的神经内分泌控制，精子发生和卵子发生的分子控制，对精子抗原的自身免疫;精子在附睾中的成熟和昼夜节律。翻译目标是由教师在生殖蛋白的X射线晶体学，配体结合位点的数学建模和新的小分子抑制剂的有机合成及其避孕作用的测试的专业知识培养。这项研究的应用主题包括开发针对睾丸和附睾中作用的转录因子的男性避孕药、杀精剂、不育诊断和基于精子和卵子抗原的避孕疫苗。继续培训基础科学家以及内科医生，泌尿科医生和产科医生的细胞和分子方法生殖过程是符合传统和承诺，以促进美国机构和印度同行的基础和临床研究人员之间的密切联系，并促进国际合作和理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This competing continuation application requests support to train three PhD scientists or post-resident physicians [MD or PhD/MD], holding positions at two partner institutions in India, for investigative careers in reproductive research. Emphasis will be placed on training in cell and molecular biology of reproduction with translational components aimed at infertility and the discovery of new leads for contraceptives. The global need for new options in contraception is highlighted by the fact that one in every two pregnancies is unwanted. Deployment of known contraceptives as well as advancement of new contraceptive options is a highest priority. This training program develops biomedical scientists who can meet the challenges of contraceptive discovery by equipping them with the tools to investigate the fundamental mechanisms governing reproductive processes, to recognize the opportunities afforded by such basic knowledge for identification of candidate contraceptive pathways and target molecules, and to test novel contraceptive strategies. Research and didactic experiences are tailored to accommodate trainees from diverse professional and academic backgrounds. Supplemental instruction is offered including courses in biostatistics, English for scientific purposes to improve writing and communication skills, recombinant DNA technology, structural genomics, pharmacology, bioethics, and drug discovery, design, synthesis, and selection. Interdisciplinary research training is achieved through interactions with preceptors who hold appointments in basic and clinical departments, through programs that evaluate leads and establish proof of principle of contraceptive action, and through collaboration with industrial advisors. All mentors hold faculty appointments in the School of Medicine or the College of Arts and Sciences and direct at least one active research grant. The institutional environment fosters interaction and exchange through a rich mix of seminars, visiting professors, conferences, and specialized research cores. The broad basic themes of faculty research programs include: the molecular analysis of sperm-egg fusion, signal transduction mechanisms between membrane receptors, sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction, protein transcription, nuclear transcription factors, molecular physiology of ion channels, neuroendocrine control of mechanisms in reproduction, molecular control of spermatogenesis and oogenesis, autoimmunity to sperm antigens; sperm maturation in the epididymis, and circadian rhythms. Translational aims are fostered by faculty expertise in X-ray crystallography of reproductive proteins, mathematical modeling of ligand binding sites and organic synthesis of new small molecule inhibitors and the testing of their contraceptive action. Applied themes of this research include the development of male contraceptives targeted to transcription factors acting in the testis and epididymis, spermicides, infertility diagnostics, and contraceptive vaccines based on sperm and egg antigens. Continued training of basic scientists as well as internists, urologists, and obstetricians in cellular and molecular approaches to reproductive processes is consistent with the tradition and commitment to foster a close link between basic and clinical investigators at US institutions and their counterparts in India and to facilitate international cooperation and understanding.