Remapping Clinical Neuroscience through Translation and Innovation Training (ReCoNnecT-IT)

临床医生-科学家在提出受患者观察启发的新的和有洞察力的科学问题方面具有独特的地位，但他们往往缺乏专业知识，无法将他们的观察转化为精心设计的基本科学和翻译实验。造成这种情况的原因可能有很多，但被引用最多的障碍是缺乏具体的培训、指导、资金和时间。如果这些障碍能够消除，更多的临床医生和科学家可以从事基于实验室的转化研究，从而帮助扭转许多神经疾病的现状，在这些疾病中，基础研究正在以越来越快的速度进行，但转化研究滞后，大多数神经疾病患者得不到预防、治疗或治愈。在这里，我们建议为已经完成神经科学相关专业的临床培训，并高度有动力在创新的、基于实验室的脑部疾病转化研究中追求内科科学家职业生涯的医学博士或医学博士提供研究培训计划。RECONNECT-IT(通过翻译和创新培训重新映射临床神经科学)计划包括在1-2名教师导师的密切指导下进行高强度的研究培训。受训者设计和进行独立研究项目，当他们过渡到独立支持时，他们可以随身携带这些项目，他们将以此为基础申请NIH K奖。研究项目旨在将神经疾病的遗传、分子和细胞病理生理学转化为预防、治疗或治愈的策略。将鼓励学员进行协作和跨学科的项目，因为这促进了他们的研究发展，并将学科联系起来，有助于产生新颖的想法。受训者将可以接触到20名核心教员，并可以与其他小组合作。学员将与博士研究人员一起工作，并参加期刊俱乐部、实验室会议和基础科学研讨会。课程包括实验设计、统计方法和量化识字的正式培训，以及我们统计培训主任提供的关于统计/数量方法的个性化培训。学员将通过两门具体的、为期一学期的课程，了解翻译研究中的关键主题，以及基础研究如何转化为临床试验(以患者为中心的研究)。他们将通过参加关于开发K奖申请、补助金和科学写作、追求学术生涯、求职技能、实验室和项目管理以及负责任的研究行为的研讨会，获得专业技能和了解职业机会。RECONNECT-IT的一个独特功能是，未来的学员可以在他们的临床培训结束之前知道他们被接受了，允许他们在剩余的临床时间内安排研究，从而在编写K奖申请之前扩大他们将拥有的研究经验总量。该计划的主要预期短期结果是申请NIH K奖励或同等资助金。

Clinician-scientists are uniquely positioned to ask new and insightful scientific questions inspired by patient observations, yet, they often lack the expertise to be able to translate their observations into carefully designed basic scientific and translational experiments. There are likely many reasons for this, but the most cited barriers are lack of specific training, mentoring, funding, and time. If these barriers could be removed, more clinician-scientists could pursue careers in laboratory-based translational research, thereby helping to reverse the current state of affairs in many neurological disorders, in which basic research is proceeding at an increasingly rapid pace but translational research is lagging, and most patients with neurological disorders are left without preventions, treatments or cures. Here we propose a research training program for MD-PhDs or MDs who have finished their clinical training in a neuroscience-related specialty and are highly motivated to pursue careers as physician-scientists in innovative, laboratory-based translational research in brain diseases. The ReConNecT-IT (Remapping Clinical Neurosciences through Translation and Innovation Training) program consists of intense research training under the close mentoring of 1-2 faculty mentors. Trainees design and conduct independent research projects that they can take with them when they transition to independent support, and upon which they will base their NIH K-award application. Research projects are directed toward the translation of the genetic, molecular and cellular pathophysiology of neurological diseases into strategies for prevention, treatment or cure. Trainees will be encouraged to pursue projects that are collaborative and cross-disciplinary, as this fosters their research development, and linking disciplines helps generate ideas that are novel. Trainees will have access to 20 core faculty and can collaborate with other groups. Trainees will work alongside PhD researchers and participate in journal clubs, lab meetings and basic science seminars. The curriculum includes formal training in experimental design, statistical methodology and quantitative literacy, and well as individualized training on statistical/quantitative methodology by our Director of Statistical Training. Trainees will gain an understanding of critical topics in translational research and how basic research is translated into clinical trials (patient-oriented research) via two specific, semester-long courses. They will gain professional skill and understand career opportunities by participating in workshops on developing a K-award application, grant and scientific writing, pursuing an academic career, job search skills, laboratory and project management, and responsible conduct of research. A unique feature of ReConNecT-IT is that prospective trainees can know of their acceptance before their clinical training ends, allowing them to schedule research into their remaining clinical time, thereby expanding the total amount of research experience they will have before writing a K-award application. The main expected short-term outcome for this program is application for an NIH K award or equivalent grants.