Multidisciplinary Training in Basic and Translational Imaging of Cancer

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请寻求范德比尔特大学和梅哈里医学院癌症基础和转化成像博士后培训项目的更新支持。体内生物医学成像已经发展成为一个强大的技术纲要，不仅对分子水平上的基本生物过程的研究有用，而且对病人护理也有用。不幸的是，尽管报告肿瘤状态的影像学指标的质量和数量都在稳步增加，但这些方法尚未有效地应用于临床。因此，在成像和癌症生物学/肿瘤学领域工作的科学家迫切需要接受培训，将成像和癌症的基本分子过程联系起来，然后将这些知识转化为临床实践。为了满足这一需求，我们建议为6名优秀的博士后科学家设计一个综合的教育和研究培训计划。我们将招收最近在相关领域（特别是医学，生物医学工程，物理，化学，分子生物物理学或生物学）完成研究生学位的学员，他们将从事癌症定量成像的基础和/或转化方面的研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support for the renewal of a post-doctoral training program in Basic and Translational Imaging of Cancer at Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College. In vivo biomedical imaging has developed into a compendium of powerful techniques useful not only for the study of fundamental biological processes at the molecular level but also for patient care. Unfortunately, while there has been a steady increase in both the quality and quantity of imaging metrics that report on tumor status, these methods have not been moved effectively to clinical use. Thus, there is a critical need for scientists working at the interface of imaging and cancer biology/oncology to be trained in making the connections between imaging and basic molecular processes in cancer and then translating this knowledge into clinical practice. We propose to address this need with a comprehensive educational and research training program designed for 6 outstanding post-doctoral scientists. We will recruit trainees who have recently completed a graduate degree in a relevant area (particularly in Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics, or Biology) who will pursue research focused on the basic and/or translational aspects of quantitative imaging of cancer. The didactic component of the proposed program will consist of seminars, relevant journal clubs, and the opportunity to take/audit a number of appropriate courses. The limited coursework will be organized so that those whose prior training emphasized the physical sciences can be trained in relevant aspects of biology/oncology and vice-versa so that all trainees, regardless of previous training, will be equipped with the necessary background to combine quantitative imaging and cancer biology/oncology at the highest levels. For the laboratory component, each trainee will have two mentors representing the disciplines of imaging science and cancer biology and/or oncology. All trainees will be mentored in the ethics of biomedical research as well as in grant writing. Trainees will be integrated into ongoing NIH funded studies within a leading biomedical imaging institute with strong connections to a leading cancer center. By combining the resources and programs of the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and the Cancer Center at Meharry Medical College, we believe we have outstanding infrastructure and personnel to focus and continue our exemplary training program in basic and translational imaging of cancer.