Houston Area Vision Training Program

描述（由申请人提供）：休斯顿地区视力培训项目是由德克萨斯大学健康科学中心和休斯顿大学（视光与生物系学院）的36名经验丰富的视觉研究教师共同努力的。该计划的主要目标是在设备齐全的实验室中提供高质量的培训，由具有良好的NEI资助记录、同行评审出版物、创新研究和以前培训经验的教师提供。该项目将利用联合教师提供几乎所有视觉科学领域的培训，包括视网膜基因与发育、视觉神经科学、中央视觉、心理物理学、视觉光学、眼表面和屈光不正。一个具体的培训计划概述，提供实验室培训，无论是临床或基础研究与相关课程的强组成部分和丰富的研讨会和访问学者的环境。具有本科学位的博士预科候选人可以在选择导师后加入该计划，并可能获得长达4年的支持。最近获得医学博士或博士学位的博士后候选人可以获得1年的资助，直到确定替代资助。最近一段时间的招聘和扩张为视觉研究的培训提供了许多新的机会。因此，我们寻求支持UHCO为6名博士预科生和2名博士后学员，1名博士和1名O.D.提供综合培训计划。从公共卫生的角度来看，培养下一代视觉研究人员非常重要。随着预期寿命的延长，视力问题将更加频繁，需要新的治疗方法。这将需要在视觉科学方面受过专门训练的研究人员采用多学科方法，将最新技术应用于视觉系统问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Houston Area Vision Training Program is a collaborative effort among 36 experienced Vision Research faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of Houston (College of Optometry and Biology Department). The primary goal of the Program is to provide high quality training in well-equipped labs by preceptors with strong records of NEI funding, peer-reviewed publication, innovative research and previous training experience. The program will draw on the combined faculty to provide training in almost any area of vision science, including Retinal Genes and Development, Visual Neuroscience, Central Vision, Psychophysics, Visual Optics, Ocular Surface & Refractive Error. A specific training program is outlined which provides laboratory training in either clinical or basic research with strong components of relevant course work and a rich environment of seminars and visiting scholars. Pre-doctoral candidates with undergraduate degrees may join the Program after selecting a Preceptor and may be supported for up to 4 years. Post-doctoral candidates with a recent M.D. or Ph.D. may be supported for 1 year until alternative funding is established. A recent period of recruiting and expansion has provided many new opportunities for training in Vision Research. Therefore, we seek support for an integrated training program for 6 pre-doctoral and two post-doctoral trainees, one Ph.D. and one O.D. at UHCO. From a public health perspective, it is important to train the next generation of Vision Researchers. As life expectancy is prolonged, visual problems will be more frequent and will require new methods of treatment. This will require a multidisciplinary approach by researchers specifically trained in Visual Science to apply the latest technology to problems of the Visual System.