Training Program in Stem Cell and Cancer Biology

干细胞的研究打破了严格的细胞谱系限制的概念，提供了有希望的再生方法，并为癌症的病因和治疗提供了新的视角。纽约大学医学院的干细胞和癌症生物学（SCCB）培训补助金旨在为这一快速发展的研究领域提供培训。这是我们明确的目标，使学员能够深刻理解的方法，原则和问题，提供这个新的和可能的变革性研究领域的基础。具体而言，SCCB计划旨在培养正常和癌症干细胞生物学领域的学生和博士后研究员，以阐明干细胞/祖细胞以不适当的方式激活时导致恶性转化的机制和途径。该计划的一个长期目标是培养一批新的研究人员，他们对干细胞和癌症生物学的广泛和跨学科知识可能会导致更好地了解癌症的原因，最终可能导致开发新的靶向疗法来治疗肿瘤。SCCB计划的重点是使学员能够获得成功的职业生涯所需的技能，作为独立的科学家在癌症干细胞生物学领域通过授权他们发展独立和严格的关键技能。16名SCCB导师是高生产力的科学家，其中大多数拥有NCI和其他癌症相关的资金。在过去的10年里，他们共培养了72名学生和96名博士后研究员。SCCB计划将在高度互动的科学环境中提供智力要求高的博士前和博士后培训，在鼓励多样性的广泛培训环境中提供严格的课程，教程和研讨会。多层次的指导计划将允许监测研究进展。学员还将获得批判性地评估科学数据和文献的能力，并将发展他们的写作和演讲技巧。学生的培训将包括严格的干细胞生物学，遗传学和分子肿瘤学课程。所有学员将参加干细胞生物学系列研讨会、年度务虚会、期刊俱乐部和讨论小组，以及侧重于科学和职业选择中道德行为的讲座。申请的资金用于资助33名合格的博士前（根据2009年录取人数）和110名合格的博士后（根据目前博士后学员总数）学员中的2名博士前和4名博士后学员。这些受训人员将代表新一代的科学家，他们可以为开发治疗恶性疾病的新疗法做出贡献。 公共卫生相关性：该培训计划旨在培养正常和癌症干细胞生物学领域的博士前和博士后学生/研究员，以阐明干细胞/祖细胞以不适当的方式激活时导致恶性转化的机制和途径。这些研究的结果将有助于更好地了解癌症的原因，这可能导致开发新的靶向治疗方法来治疗恶性肿瘤。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The study of stem cells has shattered the concept of strict cell lineage restriction, has provided promising approaches to regeneration and has given a new perspective on the causes and treatments of cancers. The intent of the Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (SCCB) training grant at New York University School of Medicine is to provide training in this rapidly developing research field. It is our explicit goal to empower trainees with a deep understanding of the methods, principles and questions that provide the base of this new and likely transformative research area. Specifically, the SCCB program aims to train students and postdoctoral fellows in the fields of normal and cancer stem cell biology in order to elucidate mechanisms and pathways that when activated in an inappropriate manner in stem/progenitor cells contribute to malignant transformation. A long- term goal of the program is to train a new cadre of researchers whose broad and interdisciplinary knowledge of stem cell and cancer biology may result in a better understanding of the causes of cancer that may eventually lead to the development of new targeted therapies to treat tumors. The SCCB program focuses on enabling trainees to acquire the skills needed for successful careers as independent scientists in the cancer stem cell biology field by empowering them to develop independent and rigorous critical skills. The 16 SCCB mentors are highly productive scientists most of whom have NCI and other cancer related funding. They have trained a total of 72 students and 96 post-doctoral fellows in the past 10 years. The SCCB program will provide intellectually demanding pre- and postdoctoral training in a highly interactive scientific environment providing rigorous courses, tutorials, and seminars in a broad training environment that encourages diversity. Multi-tiered mentoring plans will allow monitoring of research progress. Trainees will also acquire the ability to critically evaluate scientific data and literature and will develop their writing and presentation skills. Training of students will include rigorous courses in Stem Cell Biology, Genetics and Molecular Oncology. All trainees will participate in the stem cell biology seminar series, an annual retreat, journal clubs and discussion groups as well as lectures focusing on ethical conduct in science and career options. Funds are requested to support 2 pre- and 4 postdoctoral trainees out of a total trainee group of 33 eligible pre- (based on 2009 admissions) and 110 eligible postdoctoral trainees (based on current postdoctoral trainee totals). These trainees will represent a new generation of scientists who can contribute to the development of novel therapies to treat malignant diseases. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This training program proposes to train pre- and postdoctoral students/fellows in the fields of normal and cancer stem cell biology in order to elucidate mechanisms and pathways that when activated in an inappropriate manner in stem/progenitor cells contribute to malignant transformation. Findings from these studies will contribute to a better understanding of the causes of cancer that may lead to the development of new targeted therapies to treat malignancies.