Training in Cardiovascular Imaging Research

描述（由申请人提供）：心血管疾病是美国发病率和死亡率的主要原因。事实上，在2005年，三分之一的死亡是由于心血管疾病（CVD），其中大多数是由于冠心病，三分之一的美国人被诊断为CVD。因此，需要改进的非侵入性方法来检测早期心血管疾病并帮助管理慢性疾病患者，这一点从未如此重要。此外，分子心血管成像的发展是最近的进步，使非侵入性成像更有前途。在心血管成像的物理学、工程学、分子学和转化应用方面具有深入培训和专业知识的医生数量仍然有限。弗吉尼亚大学是美国为数不多的中心之一，在所有4种心血管成像模式中拥有高水平的临床，物理，工程和分子专业知识，以及所有培训医生的跟踪记录。这项资助更新提案的目的是继续研究培训计划，提供包括分子成像在内的所有四种心血管成像方式的全面培训。该计划为学员提供了与成像物理学家和工程师互动的绝佳机会，他们共同承诺改进新技术的临床应用。每个学员都由博士科学家和医学博士临床科学家指导，以确保综合培训体验。培训的目标是培养下一代心血管成像领域的学术临床研究人员，他们可以在基础和临床成像科学领域进行互动。受训者在弗吉尼亚大学完成2年临床心血管培训计划或在另一家机构完成3年计划后，接受严格的2年研究培训计划。每年有两名研究员进入该计划，因此任何时候都有4名研究员入学。一个完整的教学计划，包括成像物理和工程，分子成像，统计学，流行病学，临床研究方法和医学伦理学的教学。研究培训是全面的，并结合临床和基础心血管成像研究为每个学员。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. In fact, 1 in 3 deaths in 2005 was due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), most of those due to coronary heart disease, and one in 3 Americans carry a diagnosis of CVD. The need for improved noninvasive methods to detect early cardiovascular disease and to help manage patients with chronic disease has therefore never been as critical. In addition, the development of molecular cardiovascular imaging is a recent advance that makes noninvasive imaging even more promising. The number of physicians who have in-depth training and expertise in the physics, engineering, molecular, and translational applications in cardiovascular imaging remains limited. The University of Virginia is one of a handful of centers in the U.S. that have high-level clinical, physics, engineering, and molecular expertise in all 4 cardiovascular imaging modalities as well as a track record of training physicians in all. The purpose of this grant renewal proposal is to continue the research training program that provides comprehensive training in all four cardiovascular imaging modalities, including molecular imaging. This program provides trainees with outstanding opportunities to interact with imaging physicists and engineers who together offer the promise of improvements in the clinical applications of newer technologies. Each trainee is mentored by both a PhD scientist and a MD clinician scientist to ensure an integrated training experience. The goal of the training is to develop the next generation of academic clinician investigators in cardiovascular imaging who can interact across basic and clinical imaging science. Trainees undergo a rigorous 2-year research training program following a 2 -year clinical cardiovascular training program completed at the University of Virginia or a 3-year program completed at another institution. Two fellows per year enter the program such that there are 4 fellows enrolled at any one time. A complete didactic program is offered including instruction in imaging physics and engineering, molecular imaging, statistics, epidemiology, clinical research methodology, and medical ethics. Research training is comprehensive and combines clinical and basic cardiovascular imaging research for each trainee.