Pre-doctoral Training Program in Integrative Vascular Biology

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Project Summary - The complexity of cardiovascular disease has hindered our understanding of its deveopment and progression. To uncover the mechanisms by which genetic variation and environmental factors influence cardiovascular development and disease, the next generation of scientists will need to be trained to use a variety of approaches, technologies and model systems. In response to this demand, the Integrative Vascular Biology (IVB) Pre-doctoral Training Program was established at UNC in 2002 to promote a collaborative interdisciplinary training environment for pre-doctoral students in the cardiovascular field. The IVB Program combines the breadth and depth of the cardiovascular research faculty with other research strengths at UNC in genetic model systems, state-of-the-art cell biology and imaging, high throughput genomic and proteomic analyses, and computational biology. The overall goal of the IVB Program is to provide Trainees with the interdisciplinary and collaborative skills necessary to extend their thesis work into new, innovative, and productive directions. Specific Aim 1 is to connect Trainees in broad areas of cardiovascular research by requiring them to collaborate with secondary mentors outside of their field. This training mechanism was specifically designed to “connect” graduate students in broad areas of cardiovascular biology and cardiovascular health research. The program teaches students to apply molecular, cellular, genetic, and computational approaches to pathological and physiological questions in cell, organ, and whole animal systems; to merge hypothesis- and discovery-based research; and to develop high-throughput approaches for use in complex models. Specific Aim 2 is to provide Trainees with a broad understanding of cardiovascular development and disease. This will be achieved through advanced paper-based cardiovascular courses, cardiovascular seminars by leaders in the field, and through bi-weekly student-led discussion groups. Specific Aim 3 is to enhance the skills necessary for effective collaboration and career advancement. Trainees will improve their communication skills by presenting their work at formal and informal IVB events and students will attend IVB Workshops on grant writing, career development, and scientific rigor and responsibility. The IVB Program is administered by UNC McAllister Heart Institute and is directed by Dr. Christopher Mack a respected vascular biologist who has been heavily involved in graduate student training at multiple levels. He is assisted by Associate Director, Vicki Bautch, and former IVB director Nobuyo Maeda. The major strength of the Program is the breadth and diversity of the 42 primary training faculty who are committed to graduate student training, extremely well-funded, and using cutting edge approaches to answer a wide-variety of cardiovascular questions. When combined with a well-developed academic program in Cardiovascular Science (also directed by Dr. Mack) and a large pool of well-qualified applicants, the UNC Integrative Vascular Biology Program offers an outstanding environment for multidisciplinary training of pre-doctoral students.