Training in Biomolecular Pharmacology

描述(申请人提供)：波士顿大学生物分子药理学博士前培训项目成立于1991年，是一个将生物医学工程(BME)的定量原理与药理学和实验疗法相结合的培训中心，并于1997年7月荣获NIGMS T32奖。在接下来的14年里，这个覆盖整个大学的项目继续为博士生预科学生提供支持性的学习环境。该计划的特点包括创新的课程设置、跨学科的实验室轮换、工业暑期实习以及跨越医学院和查尔斯河校区的多样化的研究培训机会。学生通过药理学系或BME进入该项目。BME和其他系的项目实习生将体验一个综合课程，该课程旨在提供丰富的药理学原理和实践培训，并与其主要学科的专门培训相协调。药理学的实习生有机会获得不同的研究和教育经验，这些研究和教育经验是建立在核心药理学教师提供的基础上的。核心课程强调基本的药理学原理以及管理生物活性分子相互作用的关键问题，新疗法的药物输送的挑战，药物作用的动物模型，它们与临床的相关性，以及现代药物发现的挑战。参与的教师最初为21人，现在为52人，他们在重点领域贡献专业知识，包括神经药理学、血管和癌症药理学、基因组学、基因疗法、蛋白质组学、动物模型(转基因和行为)、结构生物学、纳米技术、系统生物学和药物化学。论文研究的地点也设在解剖学和神经生物学、生物化学、生物、化学、医学、神经学、病理学、生理学和生物物理学、精神病学和心理学系。2010年实施的一项重大创新是大学范围内的神经科学研究生计划(GPN)，该计划吸引了大量对药物神经科学感兴趣的高素质学生。该计划继续为当地制药公司的合作科学家提供暑期实习机会。在教师和资深学生导师的积极监督下，职业指导使受训人员参与进来，并提供与他们的职业道路相关的领导机会，无论是在学术界、政府部门还是私营部门。培训时间约为5.7年，应届毕业生在竞争各个部门的高级职位方面表现异常出色。该方案目前有46名学生(41名TGE)，包括4名来自代表性不足的少数民族的TGE。这项续期申请寻求每年8名学员的资助。要求增加的职位数量是为了利用高资质的BME和GPN候选人对药理学培训的兴趣增加。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The predoctoral Training Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology at Boston University was launched in 1991 as a training center that would meld quantitative principles of biomedical engineering (BME) with pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, and was honored in July 1997 with the award of an NIGMS T32. In the succeeding 14 years, this university-wide program has continued to provide a supportive learning environment for predoctoral students. Program characteristics include an innovative curriculum, interdisciplinary laboratory rotations, an industrial summer internship, and diverse research training opportunities that span the Medical and Charles-River campuses. Students enter the Program via the Departments of Pharmacology or BME. Program trainees in BME and other departments experience an integrated curriculum designed to provide enriched training in the principles and practice of pharmacology that is coordinated with specialized training in their primary discipline. Trainees in Pharmacology gain access to diverse research and educational experiences that build upon those provided by core pharmacology faculty. The core curriculum stresses fundamental pharmacological principles as well as key issues governing interactions of bioactive molecules, challenges of drug delivery for novel therapeutics, animal models for drug action, their relevance to the clinic, and the challenges for modern drug discovery. Participating faculty, originally 21 and now 52, contribute expertise in focus areas including neuropharmacology, vascular and cancer pharmacology, genomics, gene therapy, proteomics, animal models (transgenic and behavioral), structural biology, nanotechnology, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. Sites for thesis research are also located in departments of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine, Neurology, Pathology, Physiology and Biophysics, Psychiatry, and Psychology. A major innovation implemented in 2010 is the university-wide Graduate Program for Neuroscience (GPN), which is attracting a large additional pool of high quality students with interests in pharmacological neuroscience. The Program has continued offering summer internships with collaborating scientists at local pharmaceutical companies. Career guidance with active oversight by faculty and senior student mentors engages trainees and provides leadership opportunities that are relevant to their career paths whether in academia, government or the private sector. Training duration is about 5.7 years and graduating students perform exceptionally well at competing for high level positions in various sectors. There are currently 46 students (41 TGE) in the program including 4 TGE from underrepresented minorities. This renewal application seeks funding for 8 trainees each year. The requested increase in the number of slots is to leverage the increased interest of highly qualified BME and GPN candidates in pharmacology training.