UT GASTROENTEROLOGY / HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM

描述（由申请人提供）：UT胃肠病学/肝病学研究培训计划旨在培养下一代专注于理解消化和肝脏疾病的科学领导者。该计划涉及多种学科，大致分为两个主要领域：基础科学研究和以患者为导向的临床和转化研究。该培训项目主要接受具有内科医学（M.D.或M.D./Ph.D）背景的个人。候选人)，但也为儿科，外科或病理学的学员提供机会。此外，未经临床培训的实习生（博士候选人）也是我们项目的一部分。一个独特的特点是纳入了相当比例的少数民族受训人员，主要是西班牙裔。受训者受益于大量潜在的导师，包括35个直接参与该项目的教员，以及我们校园里非常丰富的科学研究者环境。该培训计划的科学基础包括对该领域至关重要的多个领域的研究专业知识，如粘膜免疫学、微生物-宿主相互作用和炎症性肠病；肠道干细胞和胃肠道，特别是食道和结肠的恶性转化；癌症预防和筛检；消化系统的形态发生；肥胖、肝脂肪变性、脂质代谢和胆结石疾病；肝脏免疫应答与急性肝衰竭肝纤维化和门静脉高压症；病毒性肝炎和抗病毒免疫。培训课程是灵活的，但有两个基本组成部分。首先，我们所有的学员都参加了一个结构化的系列讲座，重点介绍了胃肠病学和肝病学领域的前沿研究。同样，由生物医学科学研究生院开发的负责任的研究行为课程是培训经验的核心组成部分。除了核心教育活动外，研究方面的直接培训主要在研究导师的指导下在基础实验室或作为临床研究小组的一部分进行。通常，我们的学员会花2到3年的时间在他们的研究事业上。基础科学培训经验包括学习生物化学、生理学、分子生物学和遗传学方面的各种技术，以及参加与特定学科相关的科学会议。另一方面，临床和转化研究需要通过我们大学提供的临床科学硕士课程进行正式的研究设计培训，包括伦理学和生物静力学。最后，对于有内科临床背景的学员

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The UT Gastroenterology / Hepatology research training program is aimed at producing the next generation of scientific leaders focused on understanding digestive and liver diseases. The program involves a variety of disciplines broadly categorized into two main areas: basic scientific research and patient-oriented clinical and translational research. The training program accepts primarily individuals with a background in Internal Medicine (M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. candidates), but also provides opportunities to trainees in Pediatrics, Surgery or Pathology. In addition, trainees without clinical training (Ph.D. candidates) are also part of our program. One unique characteristic is the inclusion of a significant proportion of minority trainees, primarily of Hispanic origin. Trainees benefit from a vast array of potential mentors including 35 Faculty that participate directly in this program, as well as a very rich milieu of scientific investigators across our campus. The scientific base of th training program includes research expertise in multiple areas critically important to the field such as mucosal immunology, microbial-host interactions, and inflammatory bowel disease; intestinal stem cells and malignant transformation in the GI tract, particularly the esophagus and colon; cancer prevention and screening; morphogenesis of the digestive system; obesity, liver steatosis, lipid metabolism and gallstone disease; immune responses in the liver and acute liver failure; hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension; and, viral hepatitis and anti-viral immunity. Th training curriculum is flexible, but has two basic components. First, all of our trainees participae in a structured lecture series that highlights cutting edge research in fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. Similarly, a course in responsible conduct of research developed by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is a core component of the training experience. In addition to core educational activities, direct training in research takes place primarily under th research mentor's guidance in a basic laboratory or as part of a clinical research group. Typically, our trainees devote 2 to 3 years to their research enterprise. The basic science training experience includes learning a variety of techniques in biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and genetics, as well as participation in scientific meetings relevant to the particular discipline. On the other hand, clinical and translational research involves formal training in study design, including ethics and biostatics, through a Master's program in Clinical Science offered at our University. Finally, for our trainees with a clinical background in Internal Medicine, this research training program is integrated with our clinical fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, which includes a minimum of 18 months of dedicated clinical rotations. Therefore, in most instances the training period will last from 4 to 6 years for the fiv individuals for whom support is being requested. Altogether, this program is designed to train individuals who will be effective investigators and academic leaders in the fields of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Digestive and liver diseases contribute to 9.8% of all causes of mortality and are the source of substantial healthcare direct costs in the USA, estimated at $97.8 billion in 2004. Thus, this group of disorders represents a major public health problem that requires significant research into disease prevention and treatment. This grant will support a training program aimed at preparing the next generation of scientists focused on digestive and liver disorders.