Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Host Defense

描述(由申请者提供)：该培训计划旨在为年轻科学家在免疫学研究领域的独立职业生涯做准备。在这一领域非常需要聪明、训练有素的研究人员：自身免疫性疾病、先天性和获得性免疫缺陷以及淋巴肿瘤是当今最重要和令人困惑的发病率原因。在细胞和分子水平上研究宿主防御机制，对于阐明和预防骨髓和实体器官移植的免疫并发症以及基因治疗的免疫应答也是至关重要的。实习生(博士后和博士后(医学博士或博士))研究员)由16名计划教员(医学博士、医学博士/博士或博士)中的一人指导。其研究项目涉及现代免疫学的不同领域，包括淋巴细胞分化、抗原受体基因重排和表达、肽-MHC相互作用、淋巴细胞激活和凋亡、艾滋病毒免疫反应、基因治疗、造血干细胞生物学、白细胞运输中的黏附分子和效应器功能以及细胞因子。请求为三名博士后和三名博士后实习生(包括一名医学博士研究生)提供支持。博士前实习生主要是从已经进入免疫学研究生项目的学生中挑选出来的，并选择其中一名培训教师作为他们的论文导师。通过其他项目进入教职员工实验室的学生也可以考虑。这些受训人员完成了免疫学基础和高级领域以及现代细胞和分子生物学的核心课程。博士后实习生是从高素质的博士或医学博士申请者中挑选出来的，并由个别培训人员担任。除了教师对研究培训和职业发展的指导外，博士后实习生还可以参加高级免疫学课程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This training program is designed to prepare young scientists for independent careers in immunological research. The need for bright, thoroughly trained investigators in this area is great: diseases of autoimmunity, congenital and acquired immunodeficiency, and lymphoid neoplasms are among the most significant and perplexing causes of morbidity today. Research at the level of cellular and molecular mechanisms of host defense is also critical for elucidating and preventing the immunologic complications of bone marrow and solid organ transplantation and immune responses to gene therapy. Trainees (predoctoral and postdoctoral (M.D. or Ph.D.) fellows) are mentored by one of 16 program faculty (M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or Ph.D.) with primary or joint appointments in the Department of Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, whose research programs address diverse areas of modern immunology, including lymphocyte differentiation, antigen receptor gene rearrangement and expression, peptide-MHC interaction, lymphocyte activation and apoptosis, immune responses to HIV, gene therapy, hematopoeitic stem cell biology, adhesion molecules in leukocyte trafficking and effector function, and cyotokines. Support for three predoctoral and three postdoctoral trainees (including an M.D. fellow) is requested. Predoctoral trainees are selected primarily from among students who have matriculated into the immunology graduate program and chosen one of the training faculty as their thesis mentor. Students who have entered the laboratories of participating faculty through other programs may also be considered. These trainees complete a core curriculum in basic and advanced areas of immunology and in modern cell and molecular biology. Postdoctoral trainees are selected from highly qualified Ph.D. or M.D. applicants to individual training faculty. In addition to faculty guidance of research training and career development, postdoctoral trainees may take advanced immunology courses.