Interdisciplinary Translational Pre/Postdoctoral Program in Cancer Nanotechnology

 描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的十年中，纳米技术在癌症研究中呈指数增长，表明纳米技术可以为癌症管理提供独特的和其他无法实现的解决方案，包括非常早期的癌症检测，准确的分子特异性诊断和减少副作用的治疗。然而，实现这一承诺是极具挑战性的，因为它需要克服纳米材料临床应用中的翻译障碍所带来的多重限制，而这些障碍又因癌症生物学的复杂性而倍增。目前，学术实验室的新发现与其转化为临床之间的差距越来越大。因此，迫切需要解决癌症纳米技术转化管道中的这一差距。为此，我们设计了一个新的培训计划，以教育未来的领导者在纳米技术的广泛领域与癌症相关的应用，谁是敏锐地意识到临床环境的需求和要求，以及转化研究的主要挑战的具体利益。我们认为，只有这样才能培养出具有癌症翻译头脑的博士。研究人员将它们插入到一个杰出的癌症中心的环境中。因此，我们的计划是基于德克萨斯大学MD安德森癌症中心和莱斯大学之间的密切合作。作为我们计划的一部分，我们制定了一项全面的计划，从代表性不足的少数群体中招募学员，这些群体在健康相关研究中的代表性历来不足，包括妇女，少数民族和残疾人。 我们的培训计划包括翻译研究项目的多学科指导，结合多学科，动手课程和研讨会经验。所有学员将与至少两名项目教师导师（一名来自赖斯，一名来自MD安德森）合作，以定义和实施一个独立的研究问题。教学课程将帮助他们为直接解决基于纳米技术的方法翻译障碍的研究项目做出贡献，并培养定义和领导此类项目所需的技能。新学员将参加为期两周的独特的“癌症管理和纳米技术”靴子营地，概述该领域目前的机会和障碍。学员将发展在该领域的基础背景 通过参加四门与转化癌或纳米技术相关的课程。学员将获得联邦资源的赞赏，以协助癌症纳米技术的研究，采取一次访问NCI纳米技术表征实验室。最后，学员将通过参加一个简短的实践课程获得重要的实验室管理技能，该课程介绍了实验室和项目管理。在计划结束时，研究员将对癌症纳米技术的转化研究有深入的了解，最重要的组成部分是在这个具有挑战性的多学科领域开展独立转化研究的能力。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the last decade there has been an exponential growth in nanotechnology research in cancer demonstrating that nanotechnology could provide unique and otherwise unattainable solutions to cancer management including very early cancer detection, accurate molecular specific diagnosis and treatment that diminishes side effects. However, achieving this promise is extremely challenging because it requires overcoming multiple constraints imposed by translational barriers in clinical applications of nanomaterials that is multiplied by complexity of cancer biology. Currently, there is a growing gap between new discoveries coming at a fast pace from academic labs and their translation into clinic. Therefore, there is an urgent need in addressing this gap in cancer nanotechnology translational pipeline. To this end, we have designed a novel training program to educate future leaders in the broad field of nanotechnology with specific interests in cancer-related applications, who are keenly aware of the needs and demands of clinical environment as well as of major challenges of translational research. We believe that the only way to train cancer translation minded Ph.D. researchers is to insert them into the environment of an outstanding cancer center. Therefore, our program is based on a close collaboration between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University. As part of our program, we have developed a comprehensive plan for recruiting trainees from underrepresented minority groups that are historically underrepresented in health-related research, including women, minority individuals, and individuals with disabilities. Our training program includes multidisciplinary mentorship of translational research projects combined with multidisciplinary, hands-on coursework and seminar experiences. All trainees will work with at least two program faculty mentors (one from Rice and one from MD Anderson) to define and carry out an independent research problem. Didactic coursework will prepare them to contribute to research projects that directly address barriers to translation of nanotechnology-based approaches and to develop the skills needed to define and lead such projects. Incoming trainees will participate in a unique 2-week-long boot camp in "Cancer Management and Nanotechnology" that provides an overview of current opportunities and barriers in the field. Trainees will develop foundational background in the field by taking four courses related to translational cancer or nanotechnology topics. Trainees will gain an appreciation for federal resources to assist in cancer nanotechnology research by taking a trip to the NCI Nanotechnology Characterization Lab. Finally, trainees will gain important lab management skills by participating in a short hands-on course providing an introduction to laboratory and project management. At the end of the program, fellows will have a deep understanding of translational research in cancer nanotechnology, with the most important component being the demonstrated ability to carry out independent translational research in this challenging multidisciplinary field.