UT GASTROENTEROLOGY / HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM

描述(由申请者提供)：德克萨斯大学胃肠病/肝病研究培训计划旨在培养专注于了解消化和肝脏疾病的下一代科学领袖。该计划涉及各种学科，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性研究。此外，未经临床培训的实习生(博士生)也是我们计划的一部分。一个独特的特点是纳入了相当大比例的少数族裔受训人员，主要是西班牙裔。学员受益于大量潜在的导师，包括直接参与该项目的35名教职员工，以及我们校园内非常丰富的科学研究人员环境。TH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长，如粘膜免疫学、微生物-宿主相互作用和炎症性肠道疾病；肠道干细胞与胃肠道(尤其是食道和结肠)的恶性转化；癌症预防和筛查；消化系统的形态发生；肥胖、肝脏脂肪变性、脂质代谢和胆结石疾病；肝脏的免疫反应和急性肝功能衰竭；肝纤维化和门脉高压；以及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，我们所有的受训人员都参加了一系列有组织的讲座，突出了胃肠病和肝病领域的前沿研究。同样，生物医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基础实验室或临床研究小组的研究导师的指导下进行。通常，我们的学员会在他们的研究事业中投入2到3年的时间。基本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的各种技术，以及参加与特定学科有关的科学会议。另一方面，临床和转化性研究包括通过我们大学提供的临床科学硕士课程在研究设计方面进行正式培训，包括伦理学和生物静力学。最后，对于我们具有内科临床背景的实习生 在医学方面，这项研究培训计划与我们在胃肠病和肝病方面的临床奖学金相结合，其中包括至少18个月的专门临床轮换。因此，在大多数情况下，被请求提供支助的五个人的培训期为4至6年。总之，该计划旨在培养在胃肠病学和肝脏病学领域成为有效研究人员和学术领袖的个人。 与公共卫生相关：消化和肝病占所有死亡原因的9.8%，是美国医疗保健直接成本的主要来源，2004年估计为978亿美元。因此，这一组疾病代表了一个重大的公共卫生问题，需要对疾病预防和治疗进行重大研究。这笔赠款将支持一项旨在培养专注于消化和肝脏疾病的下一代科学家的培训计划。

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.