Training in Bioengineering Research and Technology Development in Cardiovascular in Cardiopulmonary Health and Disease

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Project Summary This proposal for pre-doctoral training on “Bioengineering Research and Technology Development in Cardiovascular in Cardiopulmonary Health and Disease”, aims to train outstanding and diverse predoctoral bioengineering students in applying quantitative and integrative interdisciplinary approaches to basic and translational research in cardiopulmonary, vascular, blood and sleep pathophysiology and in developing novel technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases. The curriculum is built on four intersecting technology themes that the Bioengineering training faculty are expert in: (a) Biomechanics and Mechanobiology; (b) Biomaterials, Cell and Tissue Engineering; (c) Computational and Systems Biology; and (d) Imaging and Biophotonics. Trainees will take coursework with a concentration in two of these themes. Training faculty from the biomedical sciences will serve as required interdisciplinary co-mentors in the major scientific areas including basic and translational cardiopulmonary, vascular and blood research. The goal is to develop a new generation of bioengineers who become innovators in research and technology development for improving cardiovascular health. The leadership team has three MPIs: Dr. Andrew McCulloch (contact PI), chairs the Steering Committee (SC) and is responsible for administration, admissions and evaluation. Dr. Karen Christman will be primarily responsible for translational research training and Dr. Geert Schmid-Schönbein will oversee program-specific activities including curriculum, seminars, and the annual retreat and symposium. The training faculty includes outstanding and well-funded bioengineers, basic biomedical scientists, physician-scientists and public health experts with exceptionally strong records of collaborative research training. The SC has established effective recruitment, admission, training and evaluation procedures that ensure a large and diverse pool of well-qualified candidates, 100% retention, and excellent outcomes. The curriculum will include required program-specific courses in Cardiovascular Physiology, Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System, Patient-Centered Clinical Medicine for Bioengineers, Data Science for Cardiovascular Bioengineering, Responsible Conduct of Research and Rigor and Reproducibility, as well as bioengineering electives from two or more of the four technology themes. With our record of successful junior faculty career development, we include seven outstanding and diverse new junior engineering faculty recruited since 2017, including one who has a joint clinical appointment in Cardiovascular Medicine. They will co-mentor trainees in new areas including biophotonics, medical imaging, precision biomaterials, pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart valve disease, and neurovascular injury. All faculty will receive mentorship training, and program progress and outcomes will be assessed by two advisory committees and trainee surveys. The outcome will be scientists who use integrative, technology-driven approaches to advance cardiovascular science and healthcare.