Predoctoral Training in the Molecular Biology of Aging

衰老分子生物学博士前培训

• 批准号: 8267418
• 负责人: John M Sedivy
• 金额: $ 9.03万
• 依托单位: BROWN UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-05-01 至 2017-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8267418
• 关键词: Biology of Aging; Molecular Biology; Training; pre-doctoral

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Aging is a fundamental biological process, and age-related diseases are the leading causes of death in modern societies. The objective of the proposed Molecular Biology of Aging Predoctoral Graduate Training Program (MBoA) is simple: to train the next generation of scientists to attack the immensely challenging yet important task of understanding and eventually manipulating human aging. The MBoA will bring together molecular biologists, computational and population biologists, and geriatricians to provide instruction and training to graduate students in the molecular mechanisms of aging. The aim will be to provide PhD candidates with a strong academic and experimental foundation in the current landscape of molecular aging research, and to equip them with the skills to pursue a research career in this field. Our understanding of aging has reached a watershed in the past 10 years that was enabled by the increasing use of forward genetics in simple model systems. Thirteen faculty from 6 different departments have come together to launch the MBoA Training Program. Their research interests span from insulin/IGF signaling, chromatin structure, cellular senescence, mitochondrial function and protein quality control to degenerative disorders of the nervous system, heart and cartilage. The experimental systems span from yeast through nematode and Drosophila to mammalian models including the mouse and a variety of cell culture models. Support is requested for 2 trainees in year 1 and for a total of 4 trainees in year 2 through 5. Trainees will be supported for a period of 1 to 2 years. Candidates for support will be drawn from talented students in the program, either in their first year based on academic excellence, or in subsequent years based on the caliber of their research. The MBoA Training Program will operate as a track under the auspices of 2 existing and well-established programs at Brown University, the Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Graduate Program (MCB), and the Graduate Program in Pathobiology. These successful programs have different, but with respect to the biology of aging, very complementary and synergistic areas of activity: MCB is the seat of molecular expertise and model organisms, whereas Pathobiology holds the keys to mammalian and human physiology and pathology. The combination and integration of these approaches is the cornerstone of the philosophy of the MBoA. While research in invertebrate model systems will provide leads to the underlying molecular mechanisms of aging, these principles will have to be interpreted in terms of mammalian physiology and ultimately integrated with human pathology. Only a truly interdisciplinary approach can hope to eventually implement therapies to alleviate the suffering caused by age-associated degenerative processes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The increase of more than 25 years in the average life expectancy of Americans during the 20th century is remarkable; however, this rapid increase of the elderly population has led to a burden of disease and disability that threatens to overwhelm our society. Fortunately, research is beginning to identify universal mechanisms that determine and even regulate the aging of all organisms, including humans, and impact all organ systems. The objective of this training program is to train the next generation of scientists to engage in interdisciplinary research to discover and implement therapies to alleviate the suffering caused by age-associated degenerative processes.

说明(申请人提供)衰老是一个基本的生物过程，与年龄有关的疾病是现代社会主要的死亡原因。拟议的衰老分子生物学博士前研究生培养计划(MBEA)的目标很简单：培养下一代科学家，以应对理解并最终操纵人类衰老这一具有巨大挑战性但又重要的任务。MBEA将汇集分子生物学家、计算和人口生物学家以及老年病学家，为研究生提供关于衰老分子机制的指导和培训。其目的将是为博士生在当前分子衰老研究领域提供强大的学术和实验基础，并使他们具备在该领域从事研究事业的技能。在过去的10年里，我们对衰老的理解达到了一个分水岭，这是因为在简单的模型系统中越来越多地使用了正向遗传学。来自6个不同系的13名教员齐聚一堂，启动了MBOA培训计划。他们的研究兴趣从胰岛素/胰岛素样生长因子信号、染色质结构、细胞衰老、线粒体功能和蛋白质质量控制到神经系统、心脏和软骨的退行性疾病。实验系统从酵母到线虫和果蝇，再到哺乳动物模型，包括小鼠和各种细胞培养模型。请在第一年为2名学员提供支助，在第二至第五年总共为4名学员提供支助。学员将获得为期一至两年的支助。支持的候选人将从该项目中的有才华的学生中挑选出来，要么在第一年基于学术成就，要么在接下来的几年里根据他们的研究水平。MBOA培训计划将在布朗大学现有和成熟的两个计划--分子生物学、细胞生物学和生物化学研究生计划(MCB)和病理生物学研究生计划--的支持下运作。这些成功的项目有不同的，但在衰老生物学方面，非常互补和协同的活动领域：MCB是分子专业知识和模式生物的所在地，而病理生物学掌握着哺乳动物和人类生理学和病理学的关键。这些方法的结合和融合是多民族玻利维亚国哲学的基石。虽然对无脊椎动物模型系统的研究将为揭示衰老的潜在分子机制提供线索，但这些原理将不得不从哺乳动物生理学的角度进行解释，并最终与人类病理学相结合。只有真正的跨学科方法才有希望最终实施治疗，以减轻与年龄相关的退化过程造成的痛苦。 与公共健康相关：20世纪美国人的平均预期寿命增加了25岁以上，这是引人注目的；然而，老年人口的快速增长导致了疾病和残疾的负担，有可能使我们的社会不堪重负。幸运的是，研究开始确定决定甚至调节包括人类在内的所有有机体衰老并影响所有器官系统的普遍机制。这一培训计划的目标是培训下一代科学家从事跨学科研究，以发现和实施治疗方法，以减轻与年龄相关的退化过程造成的痛苦。