Training Program in Imaging Sciences in Translational Cardiovascular Research

成像技术的进步导致科学和医学的发现。相反， 科学和医学推动成像技术发展的创新，强调了 成像和生物医学研究之间的共生关系。连接成像和生物医学科学的必要性 在心血管研究中尤其突出，在心血管研究中，从整个器官成像心脏和血管系统， 在将发现转化为床边诊断和治疗方面，作为 因此，成像科学家必须了解什么问题是重要的生物医学研究，而生物医学 科学家必须精通有助于发现的成像技术。我们的T32项目 （2016年）-匹兹堡大学心脏病学的第一个-的动机是认识到， 能够熟练地在成像科学和生物医学研究领域之间转换的科学家， 最终损害研究成果的翻译相关性，并促成“死亡谷” 将基础发现和临床应用分开。为了弥合这一鸿沟，我们的新T32计划使用了 创新的教育模式，以培养临床和基础研究人员在广泛的尖端， 多模态成像平台，因为他们追求假设驱动的研究，重点是翻译 心血管研究虽然其他机构的T32专注于传统的心血管成像工具（例如， MRI、Echo），我们的T32在生物和物理科学中整合生物成像方面是独一无二的。我们 该计划的目的是使博士后学员（MD或博士）获得“核心能力”的成像 从分子到整个生物体的方法（“成像工具包”），以及从分子到整个生物体的转化研究方法。 人口水平的基础（“转化工具包”）-通过共同指导结构完成， 受训者有一位来自成像科学的导师和另一位来自生物医学科学竞技场的导师。我们的方法 围绕具有可量化里程碑的个性化发展计划构建，例如，介绍， 出版物，赠款，教学课程，或完成硕士学位。我们第一次融资已经4.2年了 周期，我们寻求我们的计划基于其令人信服的前提和未满足的培训需求的竞争性更新; 它在NHLBI产品组合中占据了一个重要的利基市场（只有2%的NHLBI T32是以成像为重点的）; 37 优秀的，科学多样的，资金充足的培训教师;和我们的新生计划的成功成果 到目前为止。在我们2019年心脏病学奖学金的8个职位（>700名申请者）中，4个由医学博士填补 致力于我们的T32计划，强调我们培养未来MD科学家的任务。Villanueva博士a 心脏病专家、影像学专家和研究人员，具有丰富的指导经验， 与3位经验丰富的联合董事和咨询委员会一起开展计划。我们的T32通过机构 捐赠，心脏，肺，血液和血管医学研究所的研究核心，丰富的基础设施 来自临床科学转化研究所，以及与其他机构翻译T32的相互作用。

Advances in imaging technology lead to discoveries in science and medicine. Conversely, pressing questions in science and medicine drive innovation in imaging technology development, underscoring the fundamental symbiosis between imaging and biomedical research. The necessity to connect imaging and biomedical science is particularly salient in cardiovascular research, where imaging the heart and vascular system, from whole organ to molecular levels, figures prominently in the translation of discoveries to bedside diagnosis and treatment. As such, imaging scientists must understand what questions are important in biomedical research, while biomedical scientists must be fluent in the imaging technologies that can facilitate discovery. Our inaugural T32 program (2016)– the first in Cardiology at University of Pittsburgh – was motivated by the recognition that there is a paucity of scientists who can adeptly commute between the imaging science and biomedical research spheres, ultimately compromising the translational relevance of research efforts, and contributing to the “Valley of Death” separating basic discovery and clinical application. To bridge this chasm, our new T32 Program used an innovative educational paradigm to train clinical and basic researchers in a broad spectrum of cutting-edge, multimodality imaging platforms as they pursue hypothesis-driven research, with an emphasis on translational cardiovascular research. While T32s at other institutions focus on traditional cardiovascular imaging tools (e.g., MRI, Echo), our T32 is unique in integrating biological imaging within the biological and physical sciences. Our program was designed such that post-doctoral trainees (MD or PhD) acquire “core competencies” in imaging methods spanning molecular to whole organism (“imaging tool kit”), and translational research methods spanning basic to population levels (“translational tool kit’) – accomplished through a co-mentorship structure, with each trainee having one mentor from imaging sciences and another from the biomedical science arena. Our approach is structured around Individualized Development Plans that have quantifiable milestones, e.g., presentations, publications, grants, didactic courses, or completion of Master’s degrees. Now 4.2 years into our first funding cycle, we seek competitive renewal of our program based on its compelling premise and unmet training need; its occupancy of an important niche in the NHLBI portfolio (only 2% of NHLBI T32s are imaging-focused); the 37 excellent, scientifically diverse, well-funded training faculty; and the successful outcomes of our nascent program thus far. In our 2019 Cardiology Fellowship match for 8 positions (>700 applicants), 4 were filled by MDs committed to our T32 program, highlighting our mandate to train future MD scientists. Dr. Villanueva, a cardiologist, imaging specialist, and researcher with extensive mentoring experience, has ably led our young program alongside 3 seasoned co-Directors and Advisory Boards. Our T32 is enhanced by institutional endowments, research Cores of the Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, a rich infrastructure from the Clinical Sciences Translational Institute, and interactions with other institutional translational T32s.