Graduate Training in the Pharmacological Sciences

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Project Summary Modern drug discovery and development require the training of scientists who understand the molecular, physiological and quantitative basis of drug action and specificity, and who can apply modern technologies and concepts to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This multidisciplinary doctoral training program in the Pharmacological Sciences is designed to help meet that demand by preparing students for biomedical research careers in schools of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, in research institutes, and in governmental or industrial laboratories. The most important component of training is laboratory research, first as a series of research rotations, then in the dissertation laboratory. This training is complemented by core courses in pharmacology that emphasize quantitative analysis of drug action, pharmacokinetics, drug disposition, biostatistics and experimental design, in addition to ethics training, seminar courses, journal clubs, and advanced courses in specialty areas. Emphasis throughout is placed on training in rigor and reproducibility, professional development, research ethics, and the refinement of communication skills. The 54 training faculty members represent 16 basic science and clinical departments at Emory, thereby providing a wealth of diverse research training opportunities. This is an application for a new program, which would replace the current program that has successfully trained a diverse cohort of students for the biomedical workforce over the past two decades. We plan to continue our track record of training success while also introducing new and innovative aspects to the training together with evidence-based mechanisms to evaluate both student and program outcomes. We are requesting 8 positions, with the typical duration of appointment being 24 months. Graduates of this program will have acquired broad familiarity with pharmacology, deep knowledge in the area of dissertation research, and the technical, communicative and analytical skills necessary to succeed in the biomedical workforce. The research conducted by the trainees in this program will advance our knowledge of disease processes and contribute to the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies that will benefit the health of our citizens. By preparing young scientists to contribute to and lead the nation’s efforts in these areas, this training program will help to ensure that our ability to improve the nation’s health remains strong in the future.