Harvard Stem Cell Institute Training Program for Pre- and Post-Doctoral Fellows

描述(由申请人提供)：随着我们对干细胞生物学的了解迅速发展，将这一知识应用于开发新的治疗策略变得越来越迫切。要成功地将基础科学转化为临床应用，需要一位受过医学科学领域培训的新型科学家。这需要一个教育项目，将强大的干细胞研究知识基础与这些新技术的临床应用经验相结合。这样的计划将确保参与者能够建立成功的独立研究计划，以促进基于干细胞的疗法的开发和应用。我们目前的建议旨在哈佛干细胞研究所(HSCI)建立干细胞培训计划，为干细胞生物学的职业生涯准备博士后和博士后学生。该计划将提供基于多学科、以疾病为导向的研究和患者护理的杰出基础和临床干细胞生物学研究，重点是将干细胞科学的新发现和理解转化为退行性疾病的临床疗法。该项目的一个重要组成部分是团队指导，它将引导学员成为独立的科学家，并帮助他们塑造未来的职业生涯。该项目的受训人员将独立从事他们自己的研究，而作为一个小组，他们将致力于干细胞研究的关键领域，包括：干细胞的鉴定和表征；这些细胞的分化和功能；获得干细胞的替代方法；产生患者特定的细胞类型；细胞治疗工具的产生；以及干细胞在治疗和药物发现中的应用。此外，他们将通过参加课堂、研讨会和座谈会来补充他们的实践经验，这将增强他们不仅对科学，而且对他们工作的伦理、政治和社会影响的认识和考虑。HSCI培训计划将为三名博士后和四名博士后实习生提供一个合作平台，学习干细胞生物学的许多方面。尽管这个项目位于不同的机构，在不同的首席研究员的指导下，这个项目将塑造他们的科学研究方向和职业道路。数据共享、核心设施和面对面的互动对该项目的成功至关重要，并将通过HSCI的跨学科教育和科学战略加以促进。

Description (provided by applicant): As our understanding of stem cell biology is rapidly advancing, the application of this knowledge toward the development of novel therapeutic strategies becomes increasingly imminent. Successful translation of the basic science into clinical applications requires a novel type of scientist who has been trained across the medical-science spectrum. This calls for an educational program that integrates a strong knowledge base in stem cell research with experience in the clinical application of these new technologies. Such a program will ensure that participants can establish successful independent research programs to advance the development and application of stem cell based therapies. Our current proposal aims at establishing a Stem Cell Training Program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) to prepare pre- and post-doctoral students for a career in stem cell biology. This program will provide outstanding basic and clinical stem cell biology research based on multi-disciplinary, disease-directed research and patient care, with an emphasis of translating new discoveries and understandings in stem cell science into clinical therapeutics for degenerative diseases. An essential component of the program is group mentorship, which will guide trainees to become independent scientists and help shape their future careers. Trainees in this program will work independently on their own research, while as a group will address key areas of stem cell research including: identification and characterization of stem cells; differentiation and functionality of these cells; alternative methods to derive stem cells; generation of patient-specific cell types; generation of tools for cellular therapy; and application of stem cells in therapy and drug discovery. In addition, they will complement their practical experience with participation in classes, seminars and symposia, which will enhance their awareness and consideration of not only of the science, but of the ethical, political, and social implications of their work. The HSCI Training Program will provide three pre-doctoral and four post-doctoral trainees with a collaborative platform to study many aspects of stem cell biology. Although located at different institutions and under the mentorship of different Principal Investigators, this program will shape the direction of their scientific research and career paths. Sharing of data, core facilities, and face-to-face interactions are essential to the success of this program and will be facilitated through HSCI's inter-disciplinary educational and scientific strategy.