Predoctoral and postdoctoral training program in aging and dementia

描述（由申请人提供）：该提案是对西北大学跨部门神经科学计划（NUIN）的广泛博士后和博士前衰老和痴呆症培训计划机制的持续资助的请求。资金支持四个先进的博士前候选人，他们已经开始全职论文研究后，和四个博士后学员，在早期或后期的培训阶段，要求。该培训计划由多学科的研究人员组成，其工作重点是衰老和痴呆症的机制，包括阿尔茨海默病，帕金森病和肌萎缩侧索硬化症，方法涵盖分子，细胞，系统，行为，神经心理学和临床神经科学。这些教师主要隶属于NUIN和认知神经学和阿尔茨海默病中心，该中心拥有NIA支持的阿尔茨海默病中心赠款，以及Udall帕金森病中心。该计划将由John Disterhoft博士指导，Sandra Weintraub博士（副主任），内部指导委员会和外部咨询委员会的协助。四名博士后和四名博士前实习生将在西北大学芝加哥和埃文斯顿校区3所学校10个系的32名导师的指导下进行研究。博士后培训生将根据以前的培训和研究计划进行选择。博士前学员将从NUIN和其他参与博士课程的基础上选择课程表现，轮换评估，并提出论文研究的相关性。将特别考虑其研究计划是跨学科的，并在一个以上的导师实验室进行的学员。将作出协调一致的努力，招募少数族裔。该计划将提供广泛的跨学科研究和培训机会，在基础和临床 老龄化和痴呆症研究的方法。导师将通过正式的建议和评估，通过课堂和非正式的讨论来帮助和监督学员的进展。除了提供研究培训外，该计划还将帮助学员发展书面和口头沟通，赠款写作，网络和职业发展方面的技能。另一个培训目标是灌输神经科学家所面临的伦理问题的清晰意识和科学中负责任的行为。 公共卫生相关性：与衰老相关的疾病，包括阿尔茨海默氏症，帕金森氏症和ALS，会导致痴呆症和其他症状，严重损害那些受折磨和接近他们的人的生活质量。该培训计划旨在为年轻的博士前和博士后科学家提供培训，使他们成为老龄化和痴呆症研究领域的领导者。通过了解衰老的基本过程，我们也有可能了解困扰如此多人的毁灭性疾病的问题所在。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is a request for continued funding of a broadly based postdoctoral and predoctoral Mechanisms of Aging and Dementia Training Program from the Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (NUIN). Funding to support four advanced predoctoral candidates, after they have begun full time thesis research, and four postdoctoral trainees, in early or later stages of training, is requested. This training program has developed from a multidisciplinary group of investigators whose work focuses on the mechanisms of aging and dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, with approaches spanning molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral, neuropsychological and clinical neuroscience. These faculty are affiliated primarily with NUIN and the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, that has an NIA supported Alzheimer's Disease Center grant, and the Udall Parkinson's Disease Center. The program will be directed by John Disterhoft, PhD, with the assistance of Sandra Weintraub, PhD (Associate Director), an internal Steering Committee and an External Advisory Committee. The four postdoctoral and four predoctoral trainees will conduct their research under the guidance of 32 preceptors from 10 departments of 3 schools on the Chicago and Evanston campuses of Northwestern University. Postdoctoral trainees will be selected on the basis of previous training and a research plan. Predoctoral trainees will be selected from NUIN and the other participating PhD programs on the basis of course performance, rotation evaluations, and the relevance of proposed dissertation research. Special consideration will be given to trainees whose research plans are interdisciplinary and carried out in more than one preceptor laboratory. A concerted effort will be made to recruit minorities. The program will offer a broad range of interdisciplinary research and training opportunities in both the fundamental and clinical approaches to aging and dementia research. The preceptor faculty will assist and monitor trainee progress through formal advising and evaluations, through the classroom and through informal discussions. In addition to providing research training, the program will help trainees develop skills in written and oral communication, grant writing, networking, and career development. Instilling a clear awareness of ethical issues facing neuroscientists and responsible conduct in science will be another training goal. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Diseases associated with aging, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS, which cause dementia and other symptoms, severely compromise the quality of life for those afflicted and close to them. This Training Program seeks to provide young predoctoral and postdoctoral scientists the training they will need to become leaders in the field of aging and dementia research. By understanding the basic processes aging, it will hopefully be possible to also understand what goes wrong in the devastating diseases that afflict so many.