Harvard Stem Cell Institute Training Program for Pre- and Post-Doctoral Fellows

描述（由申请人提供）：随着我们对干细胞生物学的理解迅速发展，将这些知识应用于开发新的治疗策略变得越来越紧迫。要将基础科学成功地转化为临床应用，就需要一种新型的科学家，他们受过医学科学领域的培训。这需要一个教育计划，将干细胞研究的强大知识基础与这些新技术的临床应用经验相结合。这样的计划将确保参与者能够建立成功的独立研究计划，以推进基于干细胞疗法的开发和应用。我们目前的提案旨在在哈佛干细胞研究所（HSCI）建立一个干细胞培训计划，为干细胞生物学的职业生涯做好准备。该计划将提供基于多学科，疾病导向研究和患者护理的优秀基础和临床干细胞生物学研究，重点是将干细胞科学的新发现和理解转化为退行性疾病的临床治疗。该计划的一个重要组成部分是小组指导，这将指导学员成为独立的科学家，并帮助塑造他们未来的职业生涯。该计划的学员将独立进行自己的研究，而作为一个小组将解决干细胞研究的关键领域，包括：干细胞的识别和表征;这些细胞的分化和功能;衍生干细胞的替代方法;患者特定细胞类型的生成;细胞治疗工具的生成;以及干细胞在治疗和药物发现中的应用。此外，他们将通过参加课程，研讨会和专题讨论会来补充他们的实践经验，这将提高他们对科学的认识和考虑，但他们的工作的伦理，政治和社会影响。HSCI培训计划将为三名博士前和四名博士后学员提供一个合作平台，以研究干细胞生物学的许多方面。虽然位于不同的机构和不同的首席研究员的指导下，该计划将塑造他们的科学研究和职业道路的方向。数据共享，核心设施和面对面的互动是必不可少的，这个计划的成功，并将通过HSCI的跨学科教育和科学战略促进。

Description (provided by applicant): As our understanding of stem cell biology is rapidly advancing, the application of this knowledge toward the development of novel therapeutic strategies becomes increasingly imminent. Successful translation of the basic science into clinical applications requires a novel type of scientist who has been trained across the medical-science spectrum. This calls for an educational program that integrates a strong knowledge base in stem cell research with experience in the clinical application of these new technologies. Such a program will ensure that participants can establish successful independent research programs to advance the development and application of stem cell based therapies. Our current proposal aims at establishing a Stem Cell Training Program at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) to prepare pre- and post-doctoral students for a career in stem cell biology. This program will provide outstanding basic and clinical stem cell biology research based on multi-disciplinary, disease-directed research and patient care, with an emphasis of translating new discoveries and understandings in stem cell science into clinical therapeutics for degenerative diseases. An essential component of the program is group mentorship, which will guide trainees to become independent scientists and help shape their future careers. Trainees in this program will work independently on their own research, while as a group will address key areas of stem cell research including: identification and characterization of stem cells; differentiation and functionality of these cells; alternative methods to derive stem cells; generation of patient-specific cell types; generation of tools for cellular therapy; and application of stem cells in therapy and drug discovery. In addition, they will complement their practical experience with participation in classes, seminars and symposia, which will enhance their awareness and consideration of not only of the science, but of the ethical, political, and social implications of their work. The HSCI Training Program will provide three pre-doctoral and four post-doctoral trainees with a collaborative platform to study many aspects of stem cell biology. Although located at different institutions and under the mentorship of different Principal Investigators, this program will shape the direction of their scientific research and career paths. Sharing of data, core facilities, and face-to-face interactions are essential to the success of this program and will be facilitated through HSCI's inter-disciplinary educational and scientific strategy.