Translational Basic and Clinical Research Training in Rheumatology

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The Translational Basic and Clinical Research Training in Rheumatology, led in its first cycle by NYU Rheumatology Division Director Dr. Jill Buyon, will in its second cycle be co-directed under an mPI arrangement. Adding to Dr. Buyon’s extensive translational experience in SLE and autoimmunity, Dr. Jose Scher provides complementary expertise in inflammatory arthridities, including psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis. Our mission remains clear: to support trainees through an extended period of development; to leverage emerging research opportunities to engage and excite physicians; and to bring clinical context to the pre-doctoral bench. Accordingly, our program extends traditional ACGME training and again proposes support for 2-yr training of 3 fellowship graduates, plus 1 predoctoral MD/PhD candidate to establish an early pipeline to rheumatology. In our first 4 years: a) 3 rheumatology graduates completed training (2 advancing to NYU faculty positions with external multi-year grants and publications, and 1 garnering a leadership role in industry based on accomplishments; b) 2 pre-doctoral MD/PhD trainees successfully defended a PhD thesis with publications; c) 3 fellows and 1 MD/PhD candidate (URM) remain in training; d) 2 NYU junior faculty advanced as Primary Mentors with new R01 awards e) Dr. Timothy Niewold, expertise in type I Interferon, was recruited; f) new NIH research programs were added, including a P50 in preclinical and clinical lupus, and renal and skin transcriptomics in SLE as part of AMP; g) clinical/basic research programs addressing COVID-19 and rheumatic diseases spawned during the pandemic engaged the pivot of trainees and faculty as they assumed unprecedented patient responsibilities. At the core of the present proposal is interdisciplinary training along 2 methodologically distinct research tracks, each bearing the prefix “translational” –basic or clinical – to emphasize the common purpose of all healthcare investigators. An Early Scientist Pathway is again offered to MD/PhD candidates recruited through our school’s MD/PhD and graduate programs, including the Immunology/Inflammation program and the newly established Translational Research Immunology Center (TrIC). Training tracks are grounded in core disease clusters reflecting faculty expertise and nationally recognized leadership: 1) lupus and diseases of systemic autoimmunity; 2) inflammatory and autoimmune arthritis; and 3) degenerative and metabolic bone disease. Each incorporates common and customized didactics; individualized research training experiences with teams of Primary, Associate, and Methodological Mentors to integrate science and medicine; a hand-picked Advisory Mentoring Committee for each trainee; and planning to support post-T32 faculty advancement. Programmatic success is evaluated though Executive Committee meetings and an Annual Showcase Retreat. Strong institutional commitment supports infrastructure and additional funding. The twice-renewed Clinical/Translational Science Institute provides extensive resources. This T32 program represents the ongoing trajectory of our capacity-building and scientific dedication, affirming and expanding commitment to advanced training in the rheumatic diseases.