Training Program in Quantitative Ocular Genomics

描述（由申请人提供）：人类遗传学在过去50年中已经成为生物学和医学的主导力量。这一关键地位不仅源于它在解释最基本的生物学过程中的核心重要性，而且还源于它越来越多的关键技术和方法，可以阐明分子，细胞，有机体和种群生物学。然而，这些技术和方法对不同疾病和表型的应用差异很大。尽管视力在医学、社会和文化上具有重要意义，但对眼部表型的遗传研究却落后于其他疾病。部分原因是缺乏跨学科培训机会。该培训计划的主要目标是通过培训在基因组分析方面具有特定专业知识的新一代眼科研究人员来填补这一空白。拟议的定量眼部基因组学培训计划要求两个博士前和四个博士后培训名额。它建立在范德比尔特的眼科（通过范德比尔特眼科研究所）和人类遗传学（通过人类遗传学研究中心）的资源，教师，设施和专业知识的大幅增加的基础上。对于博士前培训，它也建立在范德比尔特现有的博士前跨学科研究生课程（IGP）及其优秀和大量的学生申请人。我们的目标是培养未来的研究人员，以表征遗传变异，并了解其对人类眼部表型的表型影响。范德比尔特在统计遗传学、计算基因组学、遗传流行病学、生物信息学以及临床和基础眼科研究方面具有特别的优势。所有的博士前学员将接受严格的教学计划和密集的研究培训。博士后学员将融入我们广泛而丰富的研究环境。我们通过定期研讨会、期刊俱乐部、非正式的工作进展研讨会和年度务虚会来加强这一培训计划。为了确保均衡和完整的培训体验，每位学员将由一位在基因组学方面具有丰富经验的导师和另一位在眼部功能方面具有丰富经验的导师共同指导。 公共卫生相关性：该培训计划将为博士前和博士后研究员提供统计遗传学和基因组生物信息学方面的培训。他们将有一个综合的培训环境，提供定量眼部表型的临床和基因组方面的具体培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Human genetics has emerged over the past 50 years as a dominant force in biology and medicine. This critical position stems not only from its central importance in explaining the most basic biological processes, but also from its growing repertoire of critical technologies and methods that can elucidate molecular, cellular, organismal, and population biology. However, the application of these technologies and methods to different diseases and phenotypes has varied greatly. Despite the medical, social, and cultural importance of eyesight, genetic studies of ocular phenotypes have lagged behind other disease entities. This is due in part to the lack of cross-disciplinary training opportunities. The primary goal of this Training Program in Quantitative Ocular Genomics is to fill this gap by training a new generation of ocular researchers who have specific expertise in genomic analysis. The proposed Training Program in Quantitative Ocular Genomics requests two pre-doctoral and four post-doctoral training slots. It builds upon the substantial increase in resources, faculty, facilities, and expertise in both ophthalmology (through the Vanderbilt Eye Institute) and human genetics (through the Center for Human Genetics Research) at Vanderbilt. For pre-doctoral training it also builds upon Vanderbilt's existing pre-doctoral Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) and its excellent and large pool of student applicants. Our goal is to train future investigators to characterize genetic variation and understand its phenotypic implications on ocular phenotypes in humans. Vanderbilt has particular strengths in statistical genetics, computational genomics, genetic epidemiology, bioinformatics, and clinical and basic ophthalmological research. All pre-doctoral trainees will undergo a rigorous didactic program and intensive research training. Post-doctoral trainees will be integrated into our extensive and rich research environment. We have enhanced this training program with regular seminars, journal clubs, an informal works-in-progress seminar, and an annual retreat. To ensure a balanced and complete training experience, each trainee will be co-mentored by a preceptor with extensive experience in genomics and another in ocular function. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This training program will provide training into statistical genetics and genome bioinformatics for both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows. They will have an integrated training environment providing specific training in both the clinical and genomic aspects of quantitative ocular phenotypes.