Training Program in Quantitative Ocular Genomics

描述（由申请人提供）：人类遗传学在过去的50年里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过程方面的核心重要性，而且源于它不断增长的关键技术和方法，这些技术和方法可以阐明分子、细胞、有机体和种群生物学。然而，这些技术和方法在不同疾病和表型上的应用差异很大。尽管视力在医学、社会和文化方面具有重要意义，但眼部表型的遗传研究却落后于其他疾病实体。这部分是由于缺乏跨学科的培训机会。定量眼基因组学培训计划的主要目标是通过培训具有基因组分析专业知识的新一代眼研究人员来填补这一空白。提出的定量眼基因组学培养计划要求2个博士预科和4个博士后培养名额。它建立在大量增加的资源、教师、设施和专业知识的基础上，包括眼科（通过范德比尔特眼科研究所）和人类遗传学（通过范德比尔特人类遗传学研究中心）。在博士前培训方面，它还建立在范德比尔特现有的博士前跨学科研究生项目（IGP）及其优秀而庞大的学生申请者基础上。我们的目标是培养未来的研究人员表征遗传变异，并了解其对人类眼部表型的表型影响。范德比尔特大学在统计遗传学、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。所有博士预科生都将接受严格的教学计划和密集的研究训练。博士后学员将融入我校广泛而丰富的研究环境。我们通过定期研讨会、期刊俱乐部、非正式的工程进展研讨会和年度静修来加强这一培训计划。为了确保培训体验的平衡和完整，每位学员将由一位在基因组学方面经验丰富的导师和另一位在眼功能方面经验丰富的导师共同指导。

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.