Training in Biomolecular Pharmacology

描述（由申请人提供）：波士顿大学生物分子药理学博士前培训项目于1991年启动，作为一个将生物医学工程（BME）的定量原理与药理学和实验治疗学相结合的培训中心，并于1997年7月获得了NIGMS T32奖。在接下来的14年里，这个全校范围的项目继续为博士生提供一个支持性的学习环境。项目特色包括创新课程、跨学科实验室轮转、工业暑期实习以及跨越医学和查尔斯河校区的多样化研究培训机会。学生通过药学系或BME进入课程。项目学员在BME和其他部门经历了一个综合课程，旨在提供丰富的药理学原理和实践培训，并与他们的主要学科的专业培训相协调。在药理学学员获得不同的研究和教育经验，建立在那些由核心药理学教师提供。核心课程强调基本的药理学原理以及控制生物活性分子相互作用的关键问题，新疗法的药物传递挑战，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。参与研究的教师从最初的21人增加到现在的52人，他们在神经药理学、血管和癌症药理学、基因组学、基因治疗、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等重点领域提供专业知识。解剖与神经生物学、生物化学、生物学、化学、医学、神经病学、病理学、生理与生物物理学、精神病学和心理学等系也设有论文研究点。2010年实施的一项重大创新是全校范围内的神经科学研究生项目（GPN），它吸引了大量对药理神经科学感兴趣的高素质学生。该项目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，职业指导吸引学员，并提供与他们在学术界、政府或私营部门的职业道路相关的领导机会。培训时间约为5.7年，毕业生在竞争各个部门的高级职位方面表现出色。该项目目前有46名学生（41名TGE），其中4名TGE学生来自代表性不足的少数民族。此续期申请每年为8名学员申请资助。要求增加插槽数量是为了充分利用高素质BME和GPN候选人对药理学培训的兴趣。

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.