Research Methods in Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease

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ABSTRACT The goal of the Research Training Program in Pediatric Cardiovascular Disease is to attract and train highly qualified MD, MD-PhD, and PhD scientists dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pediatric and congenital heart disease. The program is based in the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), a leading national and international center for pediatric cardiology and treatment of congenital heart disease. The 34 Faculty Mentors in this T32 include outstanding and highly collaborative scientists - drawn from BCH, Harvard Medical School (HMS) and its affiliated hospitals, and MIT - with expertise in basic, translational, and clinical research relevant to pediatric cardiovascular disease. Together, they hold $34.9M in total support for the current year. Of those supported in the past 15 years, 91% remain active in research, 76% continue in academia, and 18% are from under- represented groups. A Research Training Executive Committee (RTEC), comprising the Program Directors and four current mentors, will oversee the progress of fellow training, career development, and mentoring, approve new mentors, and ensure that existing mentors meet the metrics of the training program. We are requesting 8 trainee positions, on average supporting the training of 4 with MD or MD-PhD degrees and 4 with PhD degrees each year. Entry into the T32 training program is highly competitive – from our highly talented candidate pool, ~7% are selected for T32 support. We will expose trainees to the clinical, translational, or basic research techniques that represent the current state of the art. A Core Curriculum will include training in biostatistics, Work-in-Progress meetings, a cardiovascular seminar series, a hands-on didactic series in cardiac anatomy, and career development seminars. Trainees will also participate in an annual retreat and regular meetings attended by T32 trainees and mentors. Through these interchanges, clinically-oriented trainees will gain understanding of fundamental cardiovascular biology, and basic science trainees will gain understanding of important clinical problems. The program allows trainees to further tailor their training to specific research interests by taking advantage of the stellar opportunities for formal coursework and the myriad of scientific seminars and lectures at BCH, HMS, the Harvard School of Public Health, and MIT. We also teach trainees the importance of teamwork, the clear communication of research findings, responsible conduct of human and laboratory research, and mentoring skills. Milestones and metrics for trainee progress and the training program itself are outlined and will be overseen by the RTEC. Considerable institutional support includes supplementation of trainee stipends and travel funds, and support for the EAC and program activities. Excellent training in rigorous experimental bench research and in translational and clinical investigation within an interactive and vibrant program will prepare graduates to become leaders in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular research.