Training in Radiation Oncology Translational Research

项目描述（申请人提供）：该项目支持与放射肿瘤学相关的放射生物学、医学物理学和影像学的博士前和博士后水平的研究培训。培养1名预科生，4名博士后，培养3年博士后，培养2-3年研究生（前2年由学校资助）。博士预科候选人从感兴趣的医学博士/博士学生和VCU医学物理博士课程的研究生中选择。博士后候选人从对转化研究感兴趣的放射肿瘤学和放射学住院医师中招募，并从正常招聘机制确定的对应用于放射肿瘤学的放射生物学和物理学感兴趣的个人中招募。在医学物理、成像和细胞生物学方面，有11名教师获得了美国国立卫生研究院的资助。通过系列讲座和系、基础科学系和NCI指定的梅西癌症中心提供的正式课程，向学生介绍癌症和辐射生物学的一般方面。学生们选修科学伦理学课程。放射物理学的培训包括剂量学、诊断成像和仪器的正式课程，以及强度调制放疗、近距离治疗和诊断成像的指导研究。对于生物学专业的学生，现代放射生物学的指导研究包括DNA修复机制、辐射诱导的信号转导机制和活性氧/氮生物学。培训的重点是他们研究的转化方面，这是通过VCU放射肿瘤科强大的转化研究项目来完成的，包括I期基因治疗试验和以临床和动物试验为重点的生物统计学课程。美国国立卫生研究院资助的医学物理学补助金本质上是转化的。该部门的计划项目资助强调现代分子生物学方法来识别放射致敏靶标，并在动物体内研究中验证这些靶标。将研究成果应用于临床（“从实验室到床边”）是美国国家癌症研究所的一个主要目标。为了实现这一目标，科学家和医生都需要在转化研究方面得到充分的培训。该计划的目的是提供放射肿瘤学的研究培训，重点是医生和科学家的转化方面。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This program supports research training at the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels in radiation biology, medical physics and imaging relevant to radiation oncology. The program (1 predoctoral, 4 postdoctoral students) consists of 3 years support for post-doctoral students and 2-3 years for graduate students (the first 2 years are covered by the University). Pre-doctoral candidates are selected from interested MD/PHD students and graduate students in the VCU Medical Physics PHD program. Post-doctoral candidates are recruited from Radiation Oncology and Radiology residents with an interest in translational research and from individuals identified by normal recruitment mechanisms with interests in radiation biology and physics as applied to radiation oncology. There are 11 faculty preceptors with NIH funding in medical physics, imaging and cellular biology. Students are introduced to general aspects of cancer and radiation biology through lecture series and in formal courses offered in the Department, the basic science departments and at the NCI designated Massey Cancer Center. Students take a course in scientific ethics. Training in radiological physics includes formal courses in dosimetry, diagnostic imaging and instrumentation, and mentored research in intensity modulated radiotherapy, brachytherapy and diagnostic imaging. For biology students, mentored research in modern radiobiology includes DNA repair mechanisms, radiation-induced signal transduction mechanisms, and reactive oxygen/nitrogen biology. An emphasis in training is on the translational aspects of their research and this is accomplished through the strong translational research program in the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU including Phase I gene therapy trials and courses in biostatistics focused on clinical and animal trials. The NIH-funded medical physics grants are translational in nature. The Department's Program Project Grant emphasizes modern molecular biological approaches to identifying targets for radiosensitization and validating these targets in vivo in animal studies. Bringing the results from research to applications in the clinic ("bench to bedside") is a major goal of the National Cancer Institute. To achieve this goal requires that the scientists and physicians alike are adequately trained in translational research. The purpose of this program is to provide research training in radiation oncology with an emphasis on the translational aspects for both physician and scientist.