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预科学员提供必要的知识和研究基础，使他们成为独立的科学家/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，在高度协作、互动的环境中进行。该计划提供几乎所有方面的病毒遗传学，病毒的分子，细胞和结构生物学，以及病毒与宿主在细胞和有机体水平上的相互作用的培训。特别优势的领域包括病毒成分的结构生物学，病毒转化，病毒进入，运输和复制，以及对病毒的适应性和先天免疫反应，包括一些生物防御感兴趣的选择剂病原体。作为一个群体，26名病毒学计划培训师在研究成就和培训方面有着杰出的记录，其中许多是各自领域的国家或国际领导者。这些教员在耶鲁大学12个不同的院系担任主要职务，目前在他们的实验室里有72名博士预科生和120名博士后实习生。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，以及前两年的其他生物学领域，研究轮转，教学和资格考试，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活动的主要焦点。在方法、逻辑和负责任的研究行为方面进行强化培训，并辅以广泛的科学互动机会。获得博士学位的平均时间为5.5 - 6.0年。病毒学培训师以及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学员，特别是来自代表性不足的少数群体的学员。本申请要求资金支持6名博士预科学员在任何时间；他们最多可获得三年的资助。相关性：该计划培养年轻科学家从事研究工作，重点研究病毒生物学，这些病毒仍然作为传染病的病原体困扰着人类。预计这类研究将产生检测和对抗致病性病毒的新方法，以及利用病毒生命周期为健康带来积极益处的新疗法，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.