Nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease Predoctoral Research Training Program

描述(由申请人提供)：这项建议的目的是获得资金，用于培训致力于营养和心血管疾病(CVD)领域基础、临床、流行病学和/或翻译水平研究的高素质博士科学家。尽管在过去20年中取得了进步，但心血管疾病仍然是美国致残和死亡的主要原因。美国每年花费约4320亿美元，这一数字超过了全国医疗保健总支出的20%。鉴于美国人口结构继续向老年群体转移，预计这一负担将会增加。心血管疾病的终生风险和中位存活率与50岁时的危险因素负担密切相关。了解这种关联的潜在机制(S)，并改进最佳方法以将心血管危险因素负担降至最低，对于推进降低心血管疾病发病率和改善预后的方法至关重要。这一建议的合理性是基于这样一个坚定的信念，即营养是最重要的可改变的生活方式行为，可以改变心血管疾病的风险。该提案寻求资金来培训下一代研究人员，以在分子、细胞、整个生物体和种群水平上解决心血管疾病的发生、预防和治疗问题。请继续为每五年的四个博士前培训时段提供支助。所有受训人员首先被弗里德曼营养科学与政策学院的博士项目录取。经过一年或两年的课程学习(取决于之前的培训)，学生有资格进入培训计划。录取的前提是杰出的学术和研究成就，并在营养和心血管疾病领域建立一个博士研究项目。培训计划的教职员工有能力为博士前学生提供模范培训，这一点已得到证实。培训计划的关键部分包括营养学、基础科学和流行病学的教学培训；生化和分子营养学或营养流行病学领域的独立指导研究(博士论文)；在同行评议的期刊上准备、提交和/或发表研究；在公共论坛上进行研究的口头和海报演示；NIH风格的研究提案准备和辩护；以及科学伦理和研究责任方面的培训。培训计划管理和学员监督将由项目主任和指导委员会负责，指导委员会将每半年举行一次会议，审查和讨论学员的选择和进展、指导的充分性以及学员向独立研究人员的过渡。我们相信，弗里德曼学院和塔夫茨大学的培训环境为营养学和心血管疾病领域的未来研究人员提供了一个绝佳的机会，继续支持受训者的科学未来和国家的公共健康是一项很好的投资。

Description (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to obtain funds for the training of highly qualified PhD scientists committed to a research career in the area of nutrition and cardiovascular disease (CVD) at a basic, clinical, epidemiological, and/or translational level. Despite advances in the past two decades, CVD is still the leading cause of disability and death in the U.S. It costs the nation approximately $432 billion annually, a figure in excess of 20% of the total national healthcare expenditures. Given the continued demographic shift in the U.S. towards the older age groups, this burden is predicted to increase. Lifetime risk for CVD and median survival rate is strongly associated with risk factor burden at age 50 years. Understanding the underlying mechanism(s) of this association and refining optimal approaches to minimize CVD risk factor burden is critical to advancing approaches to decreasing CVD incidence and improving prognosis. The rational for this proposal is based on the firm belief that nutrition is the most significant modifiable lifestyle behavior that can alter CVD risk. This proposal seeks funds to train the next generation of researchers to address CVD genesis, prevention, and treatment at a molecular, cellular, whole organism, and population level. Continued support is requested for the four predoctoral training slots for each of five years. All trainees are first admitted to the PhD program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. After one or two years of coursework (depending on prior training) students are eligible to be admitted to the Training Program. Acceptance is predicated upon outstanding academic and research achievement, and establishing a doctoral research project in the area of nutrition and CVD. Training Program faculty have a proven record in their ability to provide exemplary training to predoctoral students. Critical components of the Training Program include didactic training in nutrition, basic sciences and epidemiology; independent mentored research in the area of biochemical and molecular nutrition or nutritional epidemiology (doctoral thesis); preparation and submission and/or publication of research in peer-reviewed journals; oral and poster presentation of research in public forums; NIH-style research proposal preparation and defense; and training in scientific ethics and research responsibility. Training Program administration and trainee supervision will be the responsibility of the program director and Steering Committee, which will meet semi-annually to review and discuss trainee selection and progress, adequacy of mentoring, and transition of trainees to independent researchers. We believe the training environment at the Friedman School and Tufts Univeristy provides an outstanding opportunity for future researchers in the area of nutrition and CVD and continued support in both the scientific future of the trainees and the public health of the nation is a good investment.