Multidisciplinary Visual Sciences Training Program

 描述(申请人提供)：过去10年见证了基础视觉科学和临床视觉科学惊人的融合。光遗传学、视网膜阵列制作、干细胞生物学、血管生成途径和显微镜等方面的基本进展都在临床上得到了迅速的应用。未来理想的视觉科学家，今天的实习生，需要拥有多学科背景，以便精通基础科学和临床应用。西北大学多学科视力培训计划的目标是为独立从事视力研究的博士后和博士后培训人员做准备，广义上包括前眼的疾病和功能、视网膜的疾病和处理机制以及中央处理。提出这一建议的理由是为了利用西北大学现有的多学科研究基地，将实验室整合为一个具有凝聚力的单位用于培训。20名讲师提供细胞和分子生物学、遗传学、视觉系统神经生物学、高级显微镜、干细胞、前眼和后眼疾病以及基于证据的治疗结果分析和医疗保健服务方面的研究培训。在两名博士后候选人开始全日制论文研究后，以及两名博士后实习生在培训的早期或中期阶段，需要资金支持他们。博士前实习生是根据西北大学综合神经科学(NUIN)计划、跨部门生物科学(IBIS)计划、生命科学Driskill研究生计划(DGP)和生物医学工程(BME)研究生计划的课程表现、轮换评估和建议的论文研究的相关性来招募的。Predocs支持三年。根据研究记录和导师推荐，挑选博士后实习生进行为期两年的支持。指导委员会从符合条件的博士后和博士后中评估和挑选受训人员。该培训计划还教育学生科学道德和负责任的研究行为。主要的重点是从代表性不足的少数群体中招募受训人员进行视力研究。每个学员的计划由学员、导师和指导委员会确定，他们制定了个人发展计划。项目主任为眼科生理学教授、医学博士史蒂文·H·德弗里斯，联合主任为神经生物学副教授仓建华博士。除了研究培训，该计划还提供一个课程，包括两个正式课程(博士预科学生必须参加)、两周一次的关于视觉高级主题的系列演讲、多个期刊俱乐部、全国知名研究人员的特邀讲座和一个研究日。预计受训者将继续作为独立的、多产的和道德的调查人员，他们将处理视觉研究的国家优先事项。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The past 10 years have witnessed a stunning convergence between basic and clinical visual science. Basic advances in optogenetics, retinal array fabrication, stem cell biology, angiogenesis pathways, and microscopy have all seen rapid application in the clinical setting. The ideal visual scientist of the future, today's trainee, nees to have a multidisciplinary background so as to be well-versed in both basic science and clinical applications. The objective of the Northwestern University Multidisciplinary Vision Training Program is to prepare pre- and postdoctoral trainees for independent careers in vision research broadly defined to include diseases and functions of the anterior eye, diseases and processing mechanisms of the retina, and central processing. The rationale for this proposal is to capitalize on the existing multidisciplinary research base at Northwestern University by integrating labs into a cohesive unit for the purposes of training. The 20 preceptors offer research training in cel and molecular biology, genetics, neurobiology of the visual system, advanced microscopy, stem cells, diseases of the anterior and posterior eye, and evidenced based analysis of treatment outcomes and healthcare delivery. Funding to support 2 predoctoral candidates, after they have begun full time thesis research, and 2 postdoctoral trainees, in the early or middle stages of training, is requested. The predoctoral trainees are recruited on the basis of course performance, rotation evaluations, and relevance of the proposed dissertation research from the Northwestern University Integrated Neuroscience (NUIN) program, the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences (IBiS) program, the Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences (DGP), and the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Graduate Program. Predocs are supported for three years. Postdoctoral trainees are selected for support for two years based on research record and preceptor recommendation. A Steering Committee evaluates and selects trainees from among the eligible pre- and postdocs. The training program also educates students in the ethics of science and responsible conduct of research. Major emphasis is placed on recruiting trainees from under-represented minority groups to vision research. The program for each trainee is determined by the trainee, preceptor, and Steering Committee who formulate an individual development plan. The Program Director is Steven H. DeVries, MD, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology and Physiology and the co-Director is Jianhua Cang, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurobiology. In addition to research training, the program offers a curriculum that includes two formal courses (mandatory for pre-docs), a biweekly presentation series on advanced topics in vision, multiple journal clubs, invited lectures by nationally known researchers, and a Research Day. It is expected that the trainees will continue as independent, productive, and ethical investigators who will address national priorities in vision research.