Training in Cellular and Molecular Imaging of Cancer

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请为范德比尔特大学和梅哈里医学院的一个新的、博士前的癌症细胞和分子成像教育和培训项目寻求支持。生物医学体内成像已经从早期使用x射线进行诊断发展成为一种强大的技术纲要，不仅对病人护理有用，而且对细胞和分子水平上的基本生物过程的研究也有用。近年来，各种技术和分子工具的发展推动细胞和分子成像进入癌症研究的前沿。然而，对于从事物理和生物科学交叉工作的科学家来说，迫切需要接受训练，使他们能够在癌症的成像和基本生物过程之间建立联系。我们建议通过为10名优秀的博士预科科学家（每两年5名）设计的综合教学教育和研究培训计划来解决这一需求。我们将招收最近完成相关科学（特别是生物医学工程，物理，化学，分子生物物理学，电子工程或生物学）本科学位的学员，他们将从事癌症分子和/或细胞成像的研究。该计划的教学部分将包括课程、研讨会和期刊俱乐部。课程将分为两部分：一部分是针对之前受过相关物理科学培训的学生，另一部分是针对之前受过相关生物科学培训的学生。这两个方向将在第二年结束时汇合，这样所有的受训人员，无论以前受过什么培训，都将具备将定量成像和癌症生物学结合到最高水平的必要背景知识。所有受训者都将接受生物医学研究伦理以及基金写作方面的指导。此外，教学和研究培训都是为了综合物理和生物学科而设计的，从而为癌症研究创造了一个独特的多学科和跨学科的培训项目。对于研究部分，每个受训者将有两位代表成像科学和癌症生物学学科的导师。学员将被整合到一个领先的生物医学成像研究所进行的NIH资助的研究中，该研究所与一个领先的癌症中心有着密切的联系和根基。通过结合范德比尔特大学成像科学研究所（VUIIS）、范德比尔特-英格拉姆癌症中心（VICC）和梅哈里医学院癌症中心（CCM）的资源和项目，我们相信我们拥有出色的基础设施和人员，可以创建一个领先的、堪称典范的癌症成像培训项目。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support for a new, pre-doctoral educational and training program in Cellular and Molecular Imaging of Cancer at Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College. Biomedical imaging in vivo has developed from early uses of X-rays for diagnosis into a compendium of powerful techniques useful not only for patient care but also for the study of fundamental biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels. A variety of technical and molecular tools have evolved in recent years to propel cellular and molecular imaging into the forefront of cancer research. However, there is a critical need for scientists working at the interface of the physical and biological sciences to be trained in the ability to make the connections between imaging and basic biological processes in cancer. We propose to address this need with a comprehensive didactic educational and research training program designed for 10 outstanding pre-doctoral scientists (5 in each of two years). We will recruit trainees who have recently completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant science (particularly in Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics, Electrical Engineering or Biology) who will pursue research focused on molecular and/or cellular imaging of cancer. The didactic component of the proposed program will consist of courses, seminars, and a journal club. The courses will be organized into two tracks: one for those whose prior training emphasized relevant physical sciences and one for those with prior training in relevant biological sciences. The two tracks converge by the end of the second year so that all trainees, regardless of previous training, will be equipped with the necessary background to combine quantitative imaging and cancer biology at the highest levels. All trainees will be mentored in the ethics of biomedical research as well as in grant writing. Furthermore, both the didactic and research training components are designed to synthesize the physical and biological disciplines thereby creating a unique multi- and interdisciplinary training program for the study of cancer. For the research component, each trainee will have two mentors representing the disciplines of imaging science and cancer biology. Trainees will be integrated into ongoing NIH funded investigations within a leading biomedical imaging institute with strong connections and roots within a leading cancer center. By combining the resources and programs of the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS), the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), and the Cancer Center at Meharry Medical College (CCM), we believe we have an outstanding infrastructure and personnel to create a leading, exemplary training program in cancer imaging.