Predoctoral Training Program in Virology

描述(由申请人提供)：耶鲁大学病毒学培训计划的目标是为博士后学员提供必要的知识和研究基础，使其成为独立的科学家/教育工作者，研究病毒的分子生物学、宿主对病毒的反应及其在人类疾病中的作用。病毒学培训计划将在高度协作、互动的环境中进行严格的研究培训与现代病毒学、普通微生物学、免疫学和相关学科的全面学术课程相结合。该项目提供病毒遗传学、病毒的分子、细胞和结构生物学的几乎所有方面的培训，以及在细胞和生物水平上的病毒与宿主的相互作用。特别强大的领域包括病毒成分的结构生物学、病毒转化、病毒进入、贩运和复制，以及对病毒的适应性和先天免疫反应，包括一些具有生物防御意义的精选病原体。作为一个整体，26名病毒学计划培训员在研究成就和培训方面有着出色的记录，其中许多人是各自领域的国内或国际领导者。这些教员在12个不同的耶鲁大学系担任初级职务，目前有72名博士后和120名博士后实习生在他们的实验室工作。获得博士学位的博士前培训包括微生物学和/或免疫学的正式课程工作，以及生物学其他领域的工作、研究轮换、教学和头两年的资格考试，论文研究在第一年晚些时候开始，并在完成资格考试后成为主要活动重点。在研究的方法、逻辑和负责任的行为方面进行强化培训，并辅之以各种科学互动的机会。获得博士学位的平均时间为5.5-6.0年。病毒学培训员和耶鲁大学研究生院和医学院作出了广泛努力，以吸引和留住来自不同背景的受训人员，特别是代表不足的少数群体。这项申请要求在任何时候资助六名博士前实习生；他们最长可获得三年的资助。相关性：该计划培训年轻科学家从事专注于研究病毒生物学的研究事业，病毒作为传染病的病原体仍然困扰着人类人口。这类研究有望产生检测和抗击致病病毒的新方法，以及利用病毒生命周期产生积极健康益处的新疗法，例如新的疫苗和基因治疗载体，以及溶瘤剂。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the Yale Virology Training Program is to equip predoctoral trainees with the intellectual and research foundations necessary to become independent scientists/educators investigating the molecular biology of viruses, host responses to them, and their roles in human disease. The Virology Training Program combines rigorous research training in a highly collaborative, interactive environment with a thorough academic program of instruction in modern virology, general microbiology, immunology and related disciplines. The program offers training in virtually all aspects of viral genetics, the molecular, cellular and structural biology of viruses, as well as virus-host interactions at the cellular and organismal levels. Areas of particular strength include the structural biology of viral components, viral transformation, viral entry, trafficking and replication, and the adaptive and innate immune response to viruses, including a number of select agent pathogens of biodefense interest. As a group, the 26 Virology Program trainers have an outstanding record of research accomplishment and training and many are national or international leaders in their fields. These faculty have primary appointments in 12 different Yale departments and currently have 72 predoctoral and 120 postdoctoral trainees working in their labs. Predoctoral training leading to the Ph.D. degree involves formal course work in microbiology and/or immunology, as well as other areas of biology, research rotations, teaching, and the qualifying exam in the first two years, with dissertation research beginning late in year one and becoming the primary focus of activity after completion of the qualifying exam. Intensive training in the methods, logic, and responsible conduct of research are supplemented with a wide array of opportunities for scientific interactions. The average time to obtain the Ph.D. degree is 5.5 - 6.0 years. Extensive efforts are made by Virology trainers and Yale Graduate and Medical Schools to attract and retain trainees from diverse backgrounds, particularly under-represented minority groups. This application requests funding to support six predoctoral trainees at any one time; they are supported by this grant for a maximum of three years. Relevance: This program trains young scientists to pursue research careers focused on investigating the biology of viruses, which still plague the human population as agents of infectious diseases. Such research is expected to yield new approaches to detect and combat pathogenic viruses, and new therapies that exploit the virus life cycle for positive health benefits, such as new vaccine and gene therapy vectors, and oncolytic agents.