Predoctoral Training: Innovative Technologies for Natural Products and CAM Research

博士前培训：天然产物创新技术和 CAM 研究

• 批准号: 9882956
• 负责人: Nadja B Cech
• 金额: $ 15.5万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-03-01 至 2021-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9882956
• 关键词: Natural Products; Research; Training; innovative technologies; pre-doctoral

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Natural products play an essential role in both alternative and conventional western medicine. Over 30% of the US population reports using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities, which include botanical natural products. Furthermore, approximately 50% of all new small molecule drug approvals in the United States over the past decade were based on natural product compounds. Trained biomedical researchers are needed to evaluate the chemical composition, activity, and mechanism of action of natural products that are employed therapeutically. Such scientific investigations are critical for the development of safe and effective strategies to use natural products for the improvement of health, and to prevent their misuse. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM, recently renamed NCCIH) recognizes this need in their 2011-2015 Strategic Plan, which highlights the importance of training in "key biomedical and behavioral research disciplines necessary for rigorous, state-of-the-art scientific investigation of CAM interventions, practices, and disciplines." The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) is a unique and ideal location for such training to occur. Our PhD program in Medicinal Biochemistry emphasizes natural products and CAM research, and we have a strong collaborative network of faculty mentors with relevant, funded research programs. UNCG also boasts two established centers that support research related to CAM, the Center for Translational Biomedical Research and the Natural Products and Drug Discovery Center. To take advantage of the exceptional training environment at UNCG, we propose to establish a new T32 program that will support five predoctoral students who will conduct basic science research on natural products and CAM. Drawing upon a rich institutional culture of diversity at UNCG, this training program will emphasize the recruitment, retention, and success of students from diverse backgrounds. Training within our T32 program will be tailored to fit the needs of individual students, with different opportunities provided to those on academic and industrial career paths. A unique element of our program will be training in the application of cutting-edge technologies for the analysis of complex botanical mixtures. Trainees will receive hands-on instruction in this area, making use of our exceptional NMR and mass spectrometry facilities. Ultimately, our objective with the proposed T32 program is to produce scientists ready to transition into independent CAM- related careers in industry or academia. We will leverage our preexisting expertise in natural products research and our strong web of connections within the CAM community to develop a program that can efficiently achieve this outcome.

 描述（由申请人提供）：天然产物在替代医学和传统西药中都发挥着重要作用。超过 30% 的美国人口报告使用补充和替代医学 (CAM) 方式，其中包括植物天然产品。此外，过去十年美国批准的所有新小分子药物中约有 50% 是基于天然产物化合物。需要训练有素的生物医学研究人员来评估用于治疗的天然产物的化学成分、活性和作用机制。此类科学研究对于制定安全有效的策略来使用天然产品来改善健康并防止其滥用至关重要。国家补充和替代医学中心（NCCAM，最近更名为 NCCIH）在其 2011-2015 年战略计划中认识到了这一需求，该计划强调了“对 CAM 干预、实践和学科进行严格、最先进的科学研究所必需的关键生物医学和行为研究学科”培训的重要性。北卡罗来纳大学格林斯伯勒分校 (UNCG) 是开展此类培训的独特而理想的地点。我们的药物生物化学博士课程强调天然产品和 CAM 研究，并且我们拥有强大的教师导师合作网络以及相关的资助研究项目。 UNCG 还拥有两个支持 CAM 相关研究的成熟中心：转化生物医学研究中心以及天然产物和药物发现中心。为了利用 UNCG 卓越的培训环境，我们建议建立一个新的 T32 项目，该项目将支持五名博士前学生，他们将进行天然产物和 CAM 的基础科学研究。该培训计划借鉴北卡罗来纳大学丰富的多元化机构文化，强调来自不同背景的学生的招募、保留和成功。我们的 T32 计划中的培训将根据个别学生的需求进行定制，并为学术和工业职业道路上的学生提供不同的机会。我们计划的一个独特要素是应用尖端技术分析复杂植物混合物的培训。学员将接受该领域的实践指导，并利用我们卓越的核磁共振和质谱设施。最终，我们提出的 T32 计划的目标是培养准备好过渡到工业界或学术界独立的 CAM 相关职业的科学家。我们将利用我们在天然产品研究方面现有的专业知识以及我们在 CAM 社区内强大的联系网络来开发一个可以有效实现这一成果的计划。