Molecular Genetics Emphasizing Vision Research

描述(由申请人提供)：这是一份修订后的申请，要求继续支持贝勒医学院以视觉研究为重点的分子遗传学培训资助。这项建议的目标是为分子遗传学和视觉过程方面的博士后学生和博士后研究员提供全面的培训，为从事视觉研究工作做准备。培训教师总数为16人，分布在正职教授、副教授和助理教授之间。所有教员都有独立的、资金充足的实验室，进行遗传学和视觉过程的研究。主要研究领域包括人类眼病的分子遗传学，以小鼠和果蝇为模式生物的基本视网膜过程的研究，光转导，白内障形成，晶状体和角膜发育，以及青光眼。在这项提案中，我们大幅增加了积极使用基因技术进行视觉研究的教职员工数量，包括来自贝勒医学院附近的M.D.安德森癌症中心的四名新教职员工。事实上，我们项目的高度互动性、多部门和机构性质是我们提案的一个关键优势。学生培训包括一整年的授课和互动课程、期刊俱乐部和研究轮换。此外，我们还开设了一门名为“视觉研究中的分子遗传学”的新课程，以及每月一次的研究研讨会系列--“休斯顿眼科俱乐部”，在那里，研究生和博士后研究员向来自休斯敦十几个视觉研究实验室的大约30-40名研究人员介绍他们的工作。选择毕业论文导师后，学员必须在培训的第二年早期通过口语资格考试，然后平均再花四年时间完成毕业论文工作。目前，有132名研究生和72名博士后研究员有资格在与该培训计划相关的部门获得支持。在过去的10年里，这项培训资助的13名研究生获得了博士学位，现在正在接受驻地培训或博士后培训。作为这一计划成功的标志，五名获得这一资助并获得博士学位的学生继续他们在视觉研究或医学方面的职业生涯

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a revised application for continued support for a training grant in molecular genetics emphasizing vision research at Baylor College of Medicine. The goal of this proposal is to provide comprehensive training to predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in both molecular genetics and visual processes in preparation for careers in vision research. The total number of training faculty is 16, well distributed among full, associate, and assistant professors. All faculty maintain independent, well-funded laboratories conducting research in both genetics and visual processes. Major areas of research include the molecular genetics of human eye disease, studies of fundamental retinal processes using both the mouse and Drosophila as model organisms, phototransduction, cataract formation, lens and corneal development, and glaucoma. In this proposal, we have significantly expanded the number of faculty actively using genetic techniques to pursue vision research, including four new faculty members from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center located immediately adjacent to Baylor College of Medicine. Indeed, the highly interactive, multi-departmental and institutional nature of our program is a key strength of our proposal. Student training comprises a full year of didactic and interactive coursework, journal clubs, and research rotations. In addition, we have created a new course entitled "Molecular Genetics in Vision Research" as well as a monthly research seminar series, the "Houston Eye Club," in which graduate students and postdoctoral fellows present their work to a group about 30-40 researchers from more than a dozen vision research laboratories in Houston. Following selection of a thesis preceptor, students must pass an oral qualifying exam early in the second year of training and then take an average of four additional years to complete their thesis work. Currently, there are 132 graduate students and 72 postdoctoral fellows eligible for support in the departments associated with this training program. In the last 10 years, 13 graduate students supported by this training grant have received a Ph.D. degree and are now either in residence or postdoctoral training. As an indication of the success of this program, five students who have been supported by this grant and been awarded a Ph.D. have gone on to continue their careers in vision research or medicine