Vanderbilt Training Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer

描述(申请人提供)：分子生物学和遗传学方面的技术和知识的快速发展和进步导致了癌症病因学研究的重大突破。虽然癌症流行病学领域正在迅速走向一个以跨学科和多学科协作研究为中心主题的新时代，但在流行病学、分子生物学和遗传学之间工作的科学家严重短缺。我们建议建立范德比尔特癌症分子和遗传流行病学培训计划(Vanderbilt-MAGEC)，为来自不同学科的博士后研究员配备方法学工具、实用的实验室和调查研究知识，以及实践研究和撰写补助金的经验，这些都是在癌症分子和遗传流行病学领域开始独立职业生涯所必需的。 范德比尔特MAGEC的具体目标是：(1)招募在流行病学、遗传学和/或生物学方面有很强背景的不同种族的杰出候选人(2名医学博士和5名博士)。候选人将在当地和全国范围内从最近完成相关科学(特别是流行病学、遗传学、生物学、化学、生物统计学)博士学位的人员或对癌症流行病学研究有浓厚兴趣的医学博士中招募。(2)开发和提供个性化的教学培训，以补充每个受训者以前的培训背景，并沿着他们希望的职业道路(癌症的分子或遗传流行病学)开展这些培训。具体的培训将包括课程、研讨会、工作室和日记俱乐部。(3)为每位学员建立多学科导师团队，整合所有学员 参加NCI资助的癌症流行病学研究项目的受训人员。(4)通过跟踪短期和长期结果来评估范德比尔特-MAGEC的影响。所有受训人员的预期短期成果包括在影响力大、同行评议的期刊上发表论文，以及向内部或外部资助机构提交NIH质量的赠款提案。长期结果将包括癌症研究、职业安置和NIH拨款。该计划建立在卓越的研究和教育培训环境、优秀的研究人员和教育人员队伍、多个持续的尖端研究项目、卓越的数据/生物样品和人口资源以及范德比尔特大学丰富的跨学科培训历史的基础上，拥有卓越的基础设施和师资，可创建癌症分子和遗传流行病学方面的模范培训计划。 公共卫生相关性：范德比尔特癌症分子和遗传流行病学培训计划旨在满足建立一批精英流行病学家的迫切需求，以领导癌症多学科合作研究的新时代。该计划建立在杰出的研究和教育培训环境、优秀的研究人员和教育人员队伍、多个持续的尖端研究项目、出色的数据/生物标本和人口资源以及范德比尔特大学丰富的跨学科培训历史的基础上，将设计和提供个性化的教学和研究培训，使来自不同学科的博士后研究员掌握必要的方法工具、实用实验室和调查研究知识，以及实践研究和资助撰写经验，这些都是在癌症分子和遗传流行病学领域开展独立职业生涯所必需的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The rapid development and advancement of technologies and knowledge in molecular biology and genetics have led to major breakthroughs in cancer etiology research. While the field of cancer epidemiology is moving rapidly toward a new era where interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborative research is the central theme, there is a severe shortage of scientists working at the interfaces of the epidemiology, molecular biology, and genetics. We propose to establish the Vanderbilt Training Program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer (Vanderbilt-MAGEC) to equip postdoctoral fellows from a variety of disciplines with the methodological tools, practical laboratory and survey-research knowledge, and hands-on research and grant writing experience necessary to launch an independent career in the molecular and genetic epidemiology of cancer. The specific aims of the Vanderbilt MAGEC are: (1) To recruit exceptional, ethnically diverse candidates (2 MD and 5 PhD) with strong backgrounds in epidemiology, genetics, and/or biology. Candidates will be recruited locally and nationally from among persons who have recently completed PhD degrees in relevant sciences (particularly epidemiology, genetics, biology, chemistry, biostatistics) or MDs with serious interests in cancer epidemiology research. (2) To develop and deliver individualized didactic training tailored to complement each trainee's prior training background and launch them along their desired career paths (molecular or genetic epidemiology of cancer). Specific training will consist of courses, seminars, studios, and a journal club. (3) To establish a multidisciplinary mentor team for each trainee and integrate all trainees into NCI-funded cancer epidemiology research projects. (4) To evaluate the impact of the Vanderbilt-MAGEC by tracking short- and long-term outcomes. Expected short-term outcomes for all trainees include publishing papers in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and submitting an NIH-quality grant proposal to an internal or external funding agency. Long-term outcomes will include cancer research career placements and NIH grant funding. This program, built upon an outstanding research and education training environment, an excellent body of researchers and educators, multiple, ongoing, cutting-edge research projects, exceptional data/biospecimen and population resources, and the rich history of interdisciplinary training at Vanderbilt, has an outstanding infrastructure and faculty to create an exemplary training program in the molecular and genetic epidemiology of cancer. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Vanderbilt training program in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer is designed to address the urgent need to build an elite class of epidemiologists to lead the new era of multidisciplinary collaborative research in cancer. The program, built upon an outstanding research and education training environment; excellent body of researchers and educators; multiple, ongoing, cutting-edge research projects; exceptional data/biospecimen and population resources; and the rich history of interdisciplinary training at Vanderbilt, will design and deliver individualized didactic and research training to equip postdoctoral fellows from a variety of disciplines with the methodological tools, practical laboratory and survey-research knowledge, and hands-on research and grant writing experience necessary to launch independent careers in the molecular and genetic epidemiology of cancer.