BIOLOGY OF ALIMENTARY EPITHELIA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

哈佛消化系统疾病中心（HDDC）是一个由60名从事消化系统疾病基础研究的研究人员组成的联盟。HDDC的科学重点是上皮结构和功能。包括四个方面：1)上皮细胞在消化、吸收和吸收不良中的功能；2)传染病发病机制中的上皮-微生物相互作用；3)参与宿主防御和疫苗开发的上皮细胞相互作用；4)上皮细胞生长、分化和癌变。会员的实验室主要位于哈佛医学院和3家附属医院：儿童医院医疗中心（CHMC）、贝斯以色列女执事医疗中心（BIDMC）和布莱根妇女医院（BMH）；7个邻近的机构也有代表出席。HDDC将于1998年9月开始其第15个年头，由Marian R. Neutra博士担任主任，行政核心(A)位于CHMC。1998年，HDDC活跃成员的研究基地每年总额超过15,500,000美元，HDDC成员培养了256名博士后和37名博士生。26个准成员和HDDC（尚未独立资助的年轻研究人员）也参与其中。四个新修订的科学核心支持中心成员及其学员的研究：电子显微镜、光学和荧光显微镜以及共聚焦显微镜的成像核心(B)；上皮细胞功能核心（Epithelial Cell Function Core， C）用于极化上皮细胞培养、电生理和外源基因表达；生物化学/生物物理核心(D)，用于蛋白质和脂质生物化学，肽库和膜分离和分析；以及用于菌株和培养、载体、淋巴细胞分离和分析以及免疫测定的免疫学和微生物学核心(E)。HDDC资助针对年轻研究人员的试点可行性赠款，以及竞争性的小型休假奖，以促进新的合作和获取新技术。浓缩计划包括4个系列研讨会，重点是上皮细胞生物学，粘膜免疫学，微生物学，成人和儿童胃肠病学，以及2个每年半天的小型专题讨论会，重点是与消化系统疾病相关的基础研究的最新进展。这些HDDC项目协调工作，以实现HDDC的长期目标：提高我们对消化系统疾病的理解和知识，从而改善对这些疾病患者的护理。

The Harvard Digestive Diseases Center (HDDC) represents a consortium of 60 investigators engaged in basic research relevant to digestive diseases. The scientific focus of the HDDC is epithelial structure and function. Four broad areas are represented: 1) epithelial cell function in digestion, absorption and malabsorption; 2) epithelial-microbial interactions in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases; 3) epithelial cell interactions involved in host defense and vaccine development, and 4) epithelial cell growth, differentiation and carcinogenesis. Members' laboratories are located primarily in Harvard Medical School and 3 affiliated hospitals: Children's Hospital Medical Center (CHMC), Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BMH); 7 neighboring institutions are also represented. The HDDC will begin its 15th year in September 1998 under the Directorship of Dr. Marian R. Neutra, Ph.D., with the Administrative Core (A) located in CHMC. In 1998, the research base for active members totals over $15,500,000 annually, and HDDC members are training 256 postdoctoral fellows and 37 predoctoral students. 26 Associate Members and HDDC (young investigators not yet independently funded) are also involved. Four newly revised Scientific Cores support the research of Center members and their trainees: an Imaging Core (B) for electron microscopy, light and epifluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy; an Epithelial Cell Function Core (C) for polarized epithelial cell-culture, electrophysiology and heterologous gene expression; a Biochemistry/Biophysics Core (D) for protein and lipid biochemistry, peptide libraries, and membrane fractionation and analysis; and an Immunology and Microbiology Core (E) for bacterial strains & culture, vectors, lymphocyte isolation, and analysis, and immunoassays. The HDDC funds Pilot-feasibility grants targeted to young investigators, and competitive Mini-sabbatical awards to foster new collaborations and the acquisition of new technologies. An Enrichment Program includes 4 seminar series focused on epithelial cell biology, mucosal immunology, microbiology, and adult and pediatric gastroenterology, and 2 annual half- day mini-symposia focused on recent advances in basic research relevant to digestive diseases. These HDDC programs work coordinately to address the long-term objective of the HDDC: to enhance our understanding and knowledge of digestive diseases, and thereby improve the care of patients with these conditions.