Interdisciplinary Training in Virology and Gene Therapy

描述（由申请人提供）：病毒学的发展导致了几种治疗方法的发展，包括治疗或预防微生物感染和基因治疗。基因疗法有望成为多种疾病的治疗选择。基因治疗的一个关键问题是开发逃避免疫或炎症反应、无毒、有效靶向基因的基因传递载体。为了满足国家对这些类型的治疗选择的需求，加州大学洛杉矶分校病毒学和基因治疗培训计划旨在为追求基因治疗相关领域研究事业的博士前和博士后学员提供独特而优秀的环境。该计划将建立扎实的基础病毒学及其在基因治疗中的应用培训。我们的研究兴趣包括病毒进入，病毒基因表达调控，病毒基因组复制，病毒感染期间的细胞生物学，病毒颗粒组装，病毒致癌和病毒免疫学，以及设计新的载体和体内跟踪病毒载体。我们在逆转录病毒、腺病毒、SV40、丙型肝炎病毒、脊髓灰质炎病毒、流感病毒和疱疹病毒等方面拥有强大的基础研究项目，我们的教师已经并将继续从这些病毒中开发病毒载体，并利用非侵入性成像技术结合干细胞生物学监测体内基因表达。学员将在培训期间接触临床和诊断问题，以强调他们的研究项目的治疗应用，并鼓励与基础和临床导师形成转化合作。这个培训环境中的桥梁将促进基因和细胞治疗从基础科学到临床应用的转化。培训计划包括：1)与一位或多位教员进行原创性研究工作；2)提供全面病毒学和基因治疗背景知识的正式课程；3)定期召开研究会议和研讨会，由特邀嘉宾、教职员工和学员发言；4)在研究、负责任的行为和职业发展方面进行最佳实践培训。培训委员会将通过竞争选拔学员。在取得满意进展的情况下，可以续期（最多2年的博士预科，1年的博士后）。该培训项目与加州大学洛杉矶分校重组的生物科学博士项目完全整合。定期对学员和项目的进展情况进行审查。在加州大学洛杉矶分校，这个严格的培训项目强调基础科学和治疗应用的垂直整合，培养病毒学和基因治疗长期发展所需的科学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Developments in virology have led to the development of several classes of therapeutics, including treatments or prevention of microbial infection and gene therapy. Gene therapy holds the promise of therapeutic options for a variety of diseases. A key issue in gene therapy is the development of gene delivery vehicles that evade immune or inflammatory response, are non-toxic, and target the gene effectively. To fulfill the national need for these types of therapeutic options, the UCLA Virology and Gene Therapy Training Program aims to provide a unique and outstanding environment for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees pursuing research careers in fields related to gene therapy. This program will establish a solid training in fundamental virology and its applications in gene therapy. The research interests of our faculty encompass viral entry, viral gene expression regulation, replication of viral genome, cell biology during viral infection, viral particle assembly, viral carcinogenesis and viral immunology, as well as designing novel vectors and tracking viral vectors in vivo. With strong basic research programs on retroviruses, adenoviruses, SV40, hepatitis C, poliovirus, influenza virus and herpesviruses, our faculty has been and will be continuously developing viral vectors from these viruses and monitoring gene expression in vivo using non-invasive imaging technologies in combination stem cell biology. The trainees will be exposed to clinical and diagnostic issues during their training to underscore the therapeutic applications of their research projects, and be encouraged to form translational collaborations with basic and clinical mentors. This bridge in training environment will enhance the translation from basic science to clinical application in gene and cellular therapy. The training program constitutes 1) original research work with one or more of our faculty; 2) formal course work which provides comprehensive background on virology and gene therapy; and 3) regular research conferences and seminars, presented by invited guest speakers, faculty members and trainees; 4) training in best practices in research, responsible conduct and career development. The training committee will select trainees via a competitive process. Appointments are renewable with satisfactory progress (up to 2 years predoctoral, 1 year postdoctoral). The training program is fully integrated with the reorganized PhD programs in biosciences at UCLA. The progress of the trainees and the program are reviewed periodically. At UCLA, this rigorous training program with emphasis on vertical integration of basic sciences and therapeutic applications produces the scientists required for long-term development of virology and gene therapy.