Training Program in Ion Channel and Transporter Biology

 描述（由申请人提供）：离子通道和转运蛋白是普遍存在的分子，具有多种重要的生理功能，为许多类型的药理学试剂提供靶标，并且由基因编码，这些基因可能是影响神经系统和其他组织的遗传性疾病的基础。该提案描述了离子通道和转运蛋白生物学培训计划的延续，该计划将为博士后科学家提供多学科研究培训。这个高度集中的培训计划涉及28个NIH资助的导师（总资金> 44，000，000美元直接成本/年），隶属于范德比尔特大学的13个不同的学术部门和10个研究中心，在离子通道和转运蛋白领域取得了很好的成绩，并致力于培养博士后研究员。这个跨部门的培训计划利用了在研究领域超过20年的机构和多学科力量的历史。该计划最初于2001年开始，只有19名教师，并成功地填补了自那时以来所有资助的职位。虽然培训计划最初包括博士前培训，但自2010年以来，该计划只专注于博士后培训。博士后培训生是从申请导师实验室以及参与中心和部门在范德比尔特大学的申请人池中选择。一项多方面的征聘战略将继续从任职人数不足的群体中吸引高素质的个人。在本供资周期，3/12（25%）的受训人员是统一登记管理人员。除了密集的研究经验，学员将有教学课程的要求，其中包括一个重点课程的赠款写作，一个创新的程序组会议，致力于个性化的培训赠款写作，辅导和职业指导。高素质的教师导师，跨学科性质的培训机会，强大的 机构的优势联合收割机结合起来，以促进一个独特的环境，适合培训计划的目标，这是培养科学家与坚定的承诺，生物医学研究领域的离子通道和转运生物学。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Ion channels and transporter proteins are ubiquitous molecules that serve a variety of important physiological functions, provide targets for many types of pharmacological agents, and are encoded by genes that can be the basis for inherited diseases affecting the nervous system and other tissues. This proposal describes the continuation of a Training Program in Ion Channel and Transporter Biology that will provide multidisciplinary research training for postdoctoral scientists. This highly focused training program involves 28 NIH-funded preceptors (aggregate funding >$44,000,000 direct costs/year) affiliated with 13 different academic departments and 10 research centers at Vanderbilt University with strong records of accomplishments in the ion channel and transporter field, and with a deep commitment to training postdoctoral fellows. This interdepartmental training program capitalizes on a over 20-year history of institutional and multidisciplinary strength in ths research field. The program began initially in 2001 with only 19 faculty and has successfully filled all funded positions since that time. Although the training program originally included predoctoral training, since 2010 the program has focused solely on postdoctoral training. Postdoctoral trainees are selected from the pool of applicants that apply to preceptor laboratories as well as to participating centers and departments at Vanderbilt University. A multi-faceted recruitment strategy will continue to attract highly qualified individuals from underrepresented groups (URM). During the current funding cycle, 3/12 (25%) of trainees were URMs. In addition to intensive research experiences, trainees will have didactic course requirements that include a focused course on grant writing, an innovative program group meetings devoted to individualized training in grant writing, mentoring and career guidance. The high caliber of faculty mentors, the interdisciplinary nature of training opportunities, the strong institutional strengths combine to foster a unique environment suited to the goal of the training program, which is to develop scientists with strong commitments to biomedical research in the area of ion channel and transporter biology.