Multidisciplinary Research Training in Cancer Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请旨在通过一项独特的癌症成像研究培训计划，继续并改善为博士后学员提供的机会。最初筹资周期的目标已经达到并超过了这些目标。我们已经招募了高素质的候选人，并填补了所有可用的培训名额。我们增加了新的实验室，新的课程，并进一步加强了指导教师队伍。这个多学科项目选择具有重要研究经验的博士后医学、癌症生物学和成像科学候选人。该项目训练候选人成为独立的研究人员，他们可以在基础癌症研究中采用新的成像方法。学员利用范德比尔特大学和梅哈里医学院提供的各种成像和癌症生物学资源。成像资源可通过范德比尔特和梅哈里大学放射科、范德比尔特大学成像科学研究所（VUIIS）和范德比尔特/凯克自由电子激光设施获得。癌症生物学研究资源可通过范德比尔特英格拉姆癌症中心（VICC）和梅哈里癌症中心（CCM）获得。个别实习研究项目与正在进行的NIH资助的指导教师的研究相结合。每个受训者被分配两个或更多代表成像科学和癌症生物学学科的导师。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application proposes to continue and improve opportunities being provided to postdoctoral trainees through a unique training program in cancer imaging research. The objectives of the initial funding cycle have been met and exceeded. We have recruited and filled all available training slots with high-quality candidates. We have added new laboratories, new coursework and have further strengthened the mentoring faculty. This multidisciplinary program selects strong postdoctoral medical, cancer-biology and imaging science candidates with significant prior research experience. The program trains candidates to become independent investigators who can bring to bear new imaging methods on basic cancer research. Trainees utilize the wide variety of imaging and cancer biology resources available at Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College. Imaging resources are available through the Departments of Radiology at Vanderbilt and Meharry, the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS) and the Vanderbilt/Keck Free Electron Laser Facility. Cancer biology research resources are available through the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and the Cancer Center at Meharry (CCM). Individual trainee research projects are integrated with ongoing NIH funded research of the mentoring faculty. Each trainee is assigned two or more mentors representing the disciplines of imaging sciences and cancer biology. A specialized curriculum was developed under the first funding cycle, producing two new formal courses in imaging physics and cancer biology, a new imaging seminar, and a cancer imaging journal club. Developments which have further strengthen the program are the creation of VUIIS with new imaging laboratories and nine new mentoring faculty and the development of two additional courses. The curriculum has been modified to include a laboratory rotation schedule, a required course in biostatistics and earlier training in NIH grant writing skills and career development. The program is further supplemented through numerous existing courses offered by six cooperating departments. The program leadership consists of three co-directors reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the training. Ronald R. Price, Ph.D. coordinates the curriculum components specific to the imaging sciences. Lynn Matrisian, Ph.D. coordinates the curriculum components related to the biological sciences and Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. coordinates minority recruitment and training components specific to physician scientists. The program provides three years of intensive research training in the application of imaging methods to basic cancer research and prepares individuals to be active participants in a multidisciplinary team of cancer researchers. To date three trainees have completed the program and have gone on to productive careers in science.