Translational Pulmonary Vascular Biology

描述（由申请人提供）：生物医学研究人员正在见证我们将当前时代显著的基础科学发现转化为临床的集体能力的局限性。基础发现和临床应用之间的鸿沟被恰当地称为“死亡之谷”。缺乏专注于转化研究的内科科学家，以及缺乏创造性地专注于转化研究方法的培训项目，使这一问题更加复杂。该计划的目的是开发一种新的从实验室到床边的研究方法的培训计划，并培养未来一代的临床和基础研究人员在血管生物学的转化方法上，特别强调肺循环。虽然有许多T32项目专注于系统血管生物学，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方法来培训从实验室到床边的转化研究，重点是为学员提供“转化研究核心能力工具集”，从沉浸在转化研究的集中培训阶段开始，包括在FDA、NIH内部临床中心监管和药物开发项目以及行业中专注于肺动脉高压治疗的新颖的一个月选修轮岗。在掌握了人体实验研究的基本工具后，受训者将与我们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。奖学金导师将包括一名基础科学导师与一名临床科学导师配对，以提供基础科学方面的综合培训，并将必要的应用于临床和患者环境。项目重点是面向患者的从床到床（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NIH资助的研究人员，他们在肺血管生物学方面有着悠久的科学生产力历史和成功的指导。我们还包括4名初级培训教师，他们高度专注于肺血管研究，最近获得了NIH r级资助，并将与高级导师配对，以保持教师导师的持续管道。实质性的制度

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.