Translational Pulmonary Vascular Biology

描述(由申请者提供)：生物医学研究人员见证了我们将当前时代非凡的基础科学发现转化为临床的集体能力的限制。基础发现和临床应用之间的鸿沟被恰当地称为“死亡之谷”。缺乏专注于翻译研究的内科科学家，以及缺乏创造性地专注于翻译研究方法论的培训计划，加剧了这一问题。这项计划的目的是开发一种新的床到床研究方法的培训计划，并培训未来一代临床和基础研究人员血管生物学的翻译方法，特别是在肺循环方面。虽然有许多T32项目专注于全身血管生物学，但据我们所知，没有一个项目专注于肺血管生物学和肺动脉高压。我们设计了一种新的翻译研究培训方法，专注于为受训者提供“翻译研究核心能力工具集”，从沉浸在翻译研究的集中培训期开始，其中包括FDA专注于肺动脉高压治疗的新的选修课一个月轮换，NIH临床中心内部监管和药物开发计划，以及行业。掌握了人体研究的基本工具后，学员将与我们以翻译为导向的血管生物学和肺动脉高压导师进行为期两年的强化培训。奖学金导师制度将包括一名以基础科学为导向的导师和一名以临床科学为导向的导师，以提供基础科学方面的全面培训，并将必要的应用于临床和患者环境。项目的重点是以患者为中心的板凳到床边(T1)研究，并持续关注实习生的职业发展。我们的教师包括19名由NIH资助的研究人员，他们在肺血管生物学和成功的指导方面有着长期的科学生产力历史。我们还包括4名高度专注于肺血管研究的初级培训教师，他们是最近获得R-Level NIH资金的人，并将与高级导师配对，以保持持续的教师导师渠道。实质性的制度 通过对VMI的捐赠和格拉德温博士指导的翻译计划项目，可以获得支持和资源。肺血管生物学领域已经成熟到不能再依靠对下一代肺血管研究人员的“走后门”培养了。拟议的培训计划以及匹兹堡大学现有的研究人员和基础设施处于有利地位，可以创建一个新颖而丰富的从板凳到床边的翻译培训计划，旨在解决基础研究发现和临床应用之间日益严重的“死亡谷”。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Biomedical investigators are witnessing a limitation in our collective ability to translate the remarkable basic science discoveries of the current era to the clinic. The divide between basic discovery and clinical application has been appropriately termed "the valley of death". A dearth of both physician scientists focused on translational research and lack of training programs creatively focused on translational research methodologies compound this problem. The aim of this program is to develop a novel training program in bench-to-bedside research methodology and to train the future generation of clinical and basic researchers in a translational approach to vascular biology, with a specific emphasis on the pulmonary circulation. While there are many T32 programs focused on systemic vascular biology, to our knowledge there is not a single program focused on Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Pulmonary hypertension. We have engineered a new approach to training in translational bench-to-bedside research, focused on providing the trainee with a "translational research core competency tool-set", starting with immersion in a concentrated training period in translational research, that includes novel elective one-month rotations focused on pulmonary hypertension therapeutics at the FDA, intramural NIH Clinical Center Regulatory and Pharmacy Development Program, and Industry. With the fundamental tools for human subjects research in hand the trainee will then engage in a two-year intensive training fellowship with our translationally-oriented vascular biology and pulmonary hypertension mentors. The fellowship mentorship will include a basic-science oriented mentor paired with a clinical-science oriented mentor to provide for comprehensive training in basic science with the necessary application to the clinical and patient environment. Projects are focused on patient oriented bench-to-bedside (T1) research, with constant attention to trainee career development. Our faculty include 19 NIH funded investigators with a long- standing history of scientific productivity in pulmonary vascular biolog and successful mentoring. We also include 4 junior training faculty who are highly focused on pulmonary vascular research, are recent recipients of R-level NIH funding, and will be paired with senior mentors to maintain a continuous pipeline of faculty mentors. Substantial institutional support and resources are available through endowments to the VMI and a translational program project directed by Dr. Gladwin. The field of Pulmonary Vascular Biology has matured to the point that we can no longer rely on "back door" training for the next generation of pulmonary vascular researchers. The proposed training program and the existing investigators and infrastructure at The University of Pittsburgh are strongly positioned to create a novel and rich bench-to-bedside translational training program, designed to address the growing and severe "valley of death" between basic research discoveries and clinical application.