Training Program in Viral Replication

描述（由申请人提供）：这是一份新的资金申请，用于支持西北大学一个全面的病毒复制前和博士后NRSA培训计划。该计划的目标是培养积极性高的学生和博士后成为病毒复制领域的独立研究者。由病毒感染引起的疾病仍然是主要的健康问题，新出现的病毒，如SARS、西尼罗河病毒、猴痘和埃博拉病毒，引起了全世界卫生界的重大关切。此外，利用病毒制剂进行生物恐怖主义的威胁最近已成为现实。鉴于这些健康问题的重要性和生物恐怖主义的潜在威胁，病毒学仍然是一个重要的研究领域，对病毒学领域的年轻科学家的培训是高度优先的。西北大学在病毒学领域具有主要的研究和培训优势，该提案旨在通过NIAD为病毒复制培训补助金（VRTG）提供资金，扩大对博士生和博士后的培训计划。所有VRTG学生都将接受病毒学基础方面的正式课程和培训，并接触大量细胞和分子生物学的研究。大多数学生还将接受相关领域的正式培训，包括遗传学、发育生物学、生物化学和生物物理学。虽然VRTG的学生来自两个研究生项目，并在不同的实验室进行论文研究，但他们将在课程、研讨会项目、专题讨论会、研究会议和职业发展论坛上分享共同的经验，这些都构成了VRTG的培训计划。此外，医学科学家培训计划中处于研究生研究阶段的学生也将有资格获得支持。同样，病毒复制培训项目的博士后将参加有组织的研讨会、研究报告和职业发展论坛，以提高他们成为富有成效的独立研究者的能力。培训计划将由指导委员会指导，负责选拔高素质的候选人，跟踪培训学员的进度，并在培训学生时为新教员提供指导。该项目每年申请3个博士后职位和4个博士预科职位。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a request for new funding to support a comprehensive pre- and postdoctoral NRSA Training Program in Viral Replication at Northwestern University. The goal of this program is to train highly motivated students and postdoctoral fellows to be independent investigators in the areas of Viral Replication. Diseases caused by viral infection remain major health problems and new emerging viruses such as SARS, West Nile, monkeypox and Ebola have created significant concerns in the health community worldwide. In addition, the threat of using viral agents for bioterrorism has recently become a reality. Given the significance of these health issues and the potential threat of bioterrorism, virology continues to be an important area for study and the training of young scientists in the field of virology is of high priority. Northwestern has major research and training strengths in the areas of virology and this proposal seeks to expand the training program for pre and postdoctoral students by funding from the NIAD for a Viral Replication Training Grant (VRTG). All VRTG students will receive formal coursework and training in fundamental aspects of virology, as well as exposure to the vast body of research on cell and molecular biology. Most students will also receive formal training in allied fields including genetics, developmental biology, biochemistry and biophysics. While VRTG students come from two graduate programs and perform their thesis research in a variety of laboratories, they will share common experiences in the coursework, seminar programs, symposia, research meetings and career development forums that comprise the VRTG training program. In addition, students in the Medical Scientist Training Program who are in the graduate research phase of their training will also be eligible for support. Postdoctoral fellows in the Viral Replication Training Program will similarly participate in an organized program of seminars, research presentations and career development forums that will enhance their ability to become productive independent investigators. The training program will be directed by a Steering Committee with responsibilities for selection of high caliber candidates, tracking progress of trainees in the program and providing mentoring for new faculty members in the training of students. The program requests three postdoctoral positions per year as well as four predoctoral slots per year.