Faculty Recruitment and Core Resource Development in Stem Cell Biology

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of this P30 application is to enhance research capacity in the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and blood diseases through the development of stem cell resources. To accomplish this, we propose to recruit and hire Dr. In-Hyun Park as tenure tract faculty in the newly formed Department of Developmental Biology, in direct response to RFA-OD-09-005 "Recovery Act Limited Competition: Supporting New Faculty Recruitment to Enhance Research Resources through Biomedical Research Core Centers" (P30). Dr. Park possesses a wealth of experience in stem cell research and has generated some of the first induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from patients with a wide range of diseases. The successful recruitment of Dr. Park, and later, other highly qualified tenure tract faculty will be augmented by the development of a new Stem Cell Core. Hence, the three specific aims of this P30 proposal comprises: 1. Recruit new tenure track faculty in the field of stem cell biology, 2. Create a Stem Cell Core to support and enhance stem cell research via a university-wide shared resource for the production and distribution of stem cells, and 3. Create through the Stem Cell Core, a pipeline for personnel training and development of new stem cell technologies to enhance stem cell research. Dr. Park will serve as the Director of the Stem Cell Core, providing scientific oversight for the Core. He will be assisted by an assistant director who will manage the day to day activities of the Core. An advisory committee comprised of faculty from different departments/divisions of the University will be assembled to assist with establishing policies for running the core. This will include guidance on ethics issues related to human stem cell research. In addition, an overlapping mentoring committee will be assembled to assist Dr. Park with a faculty development plan and to provide guidance on balancing and prioritizing Dr. Park's research needs with other demands of the Core. This administrative and leadership structure will enhance the research productivity of the new faculty recruit, and at the same time, facilitate the work of other faculty interested in stem cell research. Overall, the recruitment of Dr. Park, the establishment of this Stem Cell Core, and the creation of the Dept of Developmental Biology reflect the University's multidisciplinary approach to biomedical research, and fills a gap that exists with respect to stem cell resources. Placement of the Stem Cell Core in the new Department at the Ranges Research Center will encourage the integration of basic science investigation into developmental mechanisms with clinical investigation into disease mechanisms. Together, the successful implementation of these endeavors, will promote interdisciplinary stem cell based translational research and the development of new, innovative therapies.