DIABETES PREVENTION / RISK / OMICS / METABOLISM / THERAPY (PROMT) INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Within the US, the incidence of diabetes is at epidemic proportions. At the same time, technological advancements are offering promising strategies to therapeutically ameliorate diabetes. The Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute (AR-DMRI) at City of Hope (COH) is uniquely poised as a center of translational research excellence with a long-standing record of success in diabetes research. As such, the COH AR-DMRI has a profound commitment to training a diverse next generation of scientific leaders with the skills needed to develop novel technologies and translate them into the clinic. The internationally recognized experts Drs. Debbie Thurmond and Rama Natarajan formalized this commitment by bringing together research mentors from 3 themes: Prevention/Risk/Biomarkers/Omics, Metabolism, and Diabetes Therapy to create the (PROMT) Predoctoral T32 Training Program. The goal of the T32 program is to support outstanding predoctoral students with analytically intensive science education from diverse backgrounds with distinct perspectives to become scientific leaders in diabetes research in line with the NIDDK mission. The PROMT program will admit 2 predoctoral trainees/ year to participate in research across the translational science pipeline. PROMT will provide an unprecedented experience for predoctoral trainees and is predicted to strengthen their commitment to research careers that drive real change in clinical practice. Eligible candidates will be recruited through the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences (IMGS) at COH. After 2 years of IMGS core curriculum, PROMT students will commit to engage in PhD dissertation research and T32 program activities for 2 years. A 3rd year of PROMT training is available by competitive renewal. Trainees will select from among 16 Mentors and 17 Co-Mentors/Clinical Partners that comprise a collaborative group of faculties with a diverse array of interests from basic, translational to clinical science. Research interests of the mentors include islet biology, epigenetics, genomics and metabolomics, adipose and muscle metabolic dysregulation, and human islet transplantation, among others. Program highlights include robust institutional support (Years 1 and 2) and unique research resources on campus, including 3 GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities, and the Helford Clinical Research Hospital. The AR-DMRI is home to the NIDDK-sponsored Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) and the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN). The T32 curriculum focuses on diabetes and diabetes-related metabolic diseases, with an emphasis on responsible research conduct and reproducibility. Laboratory research, coursework, and translational research internships will be enhanced by regular institutional journal clubs, seminars, and symposia, and a yearly PROMT retreat. The PROMT structure includes an Executive Committee, Internal Advisory Board, External Advisory Board, Curriculum Committee, and Recruitment Committee. The AR- DMRI is in a period of rapid growth, adding new departments and top-level faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, and is pleased to welcome PROMT T32 students into our rigorous training environment.