Integrative Research Training Program in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Disease

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PROJECT SUMMARY The objective of this Nationwide Children’s Hospital(NCH)/Ohio State University(OSU) institutional T32 postdoctoral program is to provide interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research training in pediatric heart and lung diseases. Cardiopulmonary diseases in infants and children are among the most severe type of pediatric illnesses ranging from congenital malformations and monogenic conditions to acquired infectious/inflammatory diseases. Our program provides a unique integrated approach to prepare trainees to become scientists and physician-scientists who will make basic, translational, and clinical research discoveries through cooperative, collaborative team science. The rationale for this holistic approach, which spans from molecular discovery and translational approaches using cell and animal models to human clinical trials, is that these synergistic methods will more rapidly impact patient care and therapies for children with cardiopulmonary diseases. We will provide an academic environment that cultivates research training at a leading pediatric research institute affiliated with an internationally recognized children’s hospital and university. Dynamic ‘bidirectional’ research tracks will allow for clinical problems to be mechanistically studied by physician-scientists and new, discovery-based findings of fundamental disease mechanisms in basic research labs to be effectively translated to the clinic. This application seeks to support 4 trainees each year over the funding period. Fellows will be selected from MD, DO, MD/PhD, or PhD trainees who hold strong interests in pediatric cardiopulmonary research and are committed to careers in disease-oriented investigation. The Program Directors have strong records in basic, translational, and clinical cardiopulmonary research and mentoring, and will serve as the training program leaders. The training plan consists of laboratory and clinical research training supplemented by courses, seminars, conferences, and exposure to industry relationships and non-traditional career pathways. Each trainee will perform independent research under the direction of a mentor according to an individualized mentoring program. The research areas encompassed by the 27 mentors, including 6 Mentors-in-Training, are represented by their affiliations at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at NCH and The Ohio State University. An aggressive underrepresented minority recruitment and retention plan is described to increase trainee diversity, and is a critical aspect of this program, which aligns with NCH and OSU strategic priorities. A comprehensive trainee and mentor evaluation system, an integral component of the training program, is also included. Overall metrics to determine success include programmatic review by internal and external advisory committees and the successful execution of each trainee’s individual mentoring program. Trainee-specific metrics include required coursework, mentoring team evaluations, and research productivity as measured by publications, presentations, and grants.