Training Program in Developmental Biology

描述（由申请人提供）：该申请提议在范德比尔特大学发育生物学项目出色的研究和培训环境中继续开展为期十年的NICHD培训计划。该项目在基础和临床研究企业中具有广泛的代表性，在一个物理紧凑的地点，有助于和谐的互动，合作和协作。项目优势有：(1)任何培训生都可以很容易地接触到项目成员。(2)向项目/培训补助金管理部门提供重要的学生和同事反馈。(3)学生和博士后特有的活动（选择访问科学家、研究讨论论坛、静修活动、教学机会），以确保他们发展职业成功所需的学术、社会和管理技能。(4)有优秀的招生人才库，并将原学生和研究员安置在学术、行业或教学岗位上担任独立或领导职务。该项目非常重视支持在研究中代表性不足的少数群体。自上次更新以来，项目教师人数从14人增加到35人，其中许多人在新的项目大楼里工作。机构对学员的直接支持包括：(1)通过跨学科研究生项目（IGP）资助一年级学生。(2)为发育生物学项目提供资金，以实现原本不存在的管理、培训和支持功能，这些功能是培训补助金的关键补充。所有项目成员都可以访问最先进的质谱、光学电子显微镜、核磁共振成像、微阵列以及生物信息学核心。生物医学研究教育和培训（BRET）办公室协调跨学科研究生项目、医学家培训项目，是职业咨询和成果研究办公室和博士后事务办公室的总部。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The application proposes the continuation of a decade-long NICHD Training Program within the outstanding research and training environment of the Vanderbilt University Program in Developmental Biology. This program has wide representation across the basic and clinical research enterprise in a physically compact site that contributes to harmonious interactions, collegiality, and collaboration. Program strengths are (1) Easy access to a program member by any trainee. (2) Significant student and fellow feedback to the Program/Training Grant administration. (3) Student and postdoc-specific activities (selecting visiting scientists, research discussion forums, retreat activities, teaching opportunities) to ensure that they develop the academic, social and managerial skills required for career success. (4) Excellent record in terms of recruitment pool, and placing ex-students and fellows in independent or leadership positions in academia, industry, or teaching positions. The program pays excellent attention to supporting minority groups underrepresented in research. Since the last renewal, program faculty membership expanded from 14 to 35, with many in a new program based building. Direct institutional support for trainees includes: (1) Funding first year students via the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP). (2) Funding the Program in Developmental Biology to allow administrative, training, and support functions that would otherwise not exist but are key augmentations of the Training Grant. All Program members can access state-of-the-art cores for mass spectrometry, optical electron microscopy, and NMR imaging, microarray as well as bioinformatics. The Biomedical Research Education and Training (BRET) office co-ordinates the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Medical Scientist Training Program, and is head office for the Office of Career Counseling and Outcomes Research and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. By its nature, developmental biology research leads to trainees who are widely versed in concept directly relevant to human health and disease. The proposed studies encompass embryogenesis (body patterning organogenesis), postnatal development, physiological regulation, aging, reproduction, and on through to cancer and regeneration. Trainees experience research in multi-investigator endeavors and small team oriented efforts. The courses, laboratory teaching, and seminar speakers emphasize how developmental biology generates insight into cell biology and biochemistry, and produces models of human disease. The program takes advantage of the power in shifting among various model systems, and relies on the 15-year foundation built in expertise in yeast, nematode worms, fruitflies, zebrafish, chicken, and mouse. A total of eight graduate student slots and three postdoctoral slots are proposed for the Training Program. Graduate students are funded for two years after their first year of core course study and laboratory rotations. Postdoctoral fellows will be supported for two years. A carefully designed suite of didactic and less formal courses and activities immerses all trainees in modern techniques/discoveries and how to place them in historical perspective.