Tumor Immunology Training Program

描述（由申请人提供）：这是H. Lee Moffitt癌症中心肿瘤免疫学培训计划的T32申请，其目标是培养进入癌症转化免疫学和免疫治疗领域的博士后。18名教职员工由同等数量的基础科学家和临床研究人员组成，他们在解决与肿瘤免疫相关的问题方面有着共同的历史。他们共同组成了一个团队，研究肿瘤免疫学的三个主要领域：1)先天免疫，2)适应性免疫，3)癌症免疫治疗。这些方法是分子的，定义了NK细胞、树突状细胞、骨髓细胞、干细胞和T细胞中涉及的信号分子和基因调控成分。根据实验室的研究结果，还发现了癌症患者体内T细胞可以识别的抗原，并找到了克服免疫耐受的方法。这种环境为培养从床到床的研究以及从床到床的工作的博士后提供了理想的环境。每年招收博士级博士后2人，连续资助3年，到第三年达到6人。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This T32 application for a Tumor Immunology Training Program at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center has the goal of training postdoctoral fellows to enter the field of translational immunology and immunotherapy of cancer. The eighteen faculty members comprise of an equal number of basic scientists and clinical investigators who have a history of working together in solving problems related to tumor immunity. Together, they form a team that addresses 3 major areas of tumor immunology 1) innate immunity, 2) adaptive immunity, and 3) immunotherapy of cancer. The approaches have been molecular, defining the signal molecules and gene regulatory components that are involved in NK cells, dendritic cells, myeloid cells, stem cells, and T cells. Antigens that can be recognized by T cells in cancer patients are also identified and means to overcome immune tolerance are sought out, based on findings in the laboratory. This environment provides an ideal setting for training of postdoctoral fellows in bench-to-bedside research as well as bedside- to-bench work. We request 2 new postdoctoral fellows, at the Ph.D. level, per year, with consecutive funding for three years, resulting in 6 total fellows by the third year. An Educational Committee, headed by Dr. Julie Djeu, with a faculty member from each of the 3 areas of research, will oversee the training. It involves a structured program with a formal research proposal from the mentor/mentee pair and regular evaluations of progress and a plan for career development. In addition to laboratory research, trainees will participate in Research-in-Progress Seminars, attend Basic and Clinical Grand Round from outside speakers, and take appropriate classes pertaining to their research. Those closer to a translational focus will have a basic as well as a clinical mentor, and will have exposure to patients in the hospital including Clinical Rounds. Experience with regulatory issues such as IRBs, INDs, and Human Safety will also be gained. State-of-the-art Core Facilities at the Cancer Center will also providing valuable training experience in numerous areas including proteomics, genomics, flow cytometry, analytical microscopy. This in-depth training will allow the postdoctoral fellow to become a successful researcher in molecular and translational immunology in academia or industry.