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。成功地将基础科学转化为临床应用需要一种新型的科学家，他们在医学科学领域受过训练。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。这样一个项目将确保参与者能够建立成功的独立研究项目，以推进基于干细胞的疗法的开发和应用。我们目前的建议是在哈佛干细胞研究所（HSCI）建立一个干细胞培训计划，为从事干细胞生物学研究的博士生和博士后做好准备。该项目将提供基于多学科、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新理解转化为退行性疾病的临床治疗方法。该计划的一个重要组成部分是小组指导，这将指导受训人员成为独立的科学家，并帮助他们塑造未来的职业生涯。该计划的学员将独立进行自己的研究，而作为一个团队将解决干细胞研究的关键领域，包括：干细胞的鉴定和表征；这些细胞的分化和功能；获取干细胞的替代方法；患者特异性细胞类型的产生；细胞治疗工具的新一代；以及干细胞在治疗和药物发现中的应用。此外，他们将通过参加课堂、研讨会和专题讨论会来补充自己的实践经验，这将提高他们的意识，不仅对科学，而且对其工作的伦理、政治和社会影响进行考虑。HSCI培训计划将为3名博士预科生和4名博士后学员提供一个合作平台，研究干细胞生物学的许多方面。虽然位于不同的机构，在不同的首席研究员的指导下，这个项目将塑造他们的科研方向和职业道路。数据共享、核心设施和面对面的交流对项目的成功至关重要，HSCI的跨学科教育和科学战略将促进这一点。

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.