Multidisciplinary Training in Molecular Endocrinology

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案请求继续支持范德比尔特大学的分子内分泌学培训计划(METP)。在了解和治疗肥胖症、糖尿病和许多其他疾病方面取得进展，需要培训下一代拥有分子内分泌学专业知识的科学家，这是该计划的目标。METP由6个基础科学系的30名教职员工组成。在这一群体中，27名是拥有稳定的、资金充足的方案和丰富的培训经验的老牌教员，3名是新的调查人员；其中5名是女性，1名是少数民族，1名是残疾人。这个教官小组构成了一个不寻常的多样化和才华横溢的个体小组，他们的工作涵盖了分子内分泌学的范围。这些感受器在以下一般领域进行研究：1)信号转导2)基因表达的荷尔蒙调节，3)代谢调节和4)β细胞的发育和功能。要求稳定招聘8名博士前和4名博士后实习生是合理的，这是基于导师指导的研究方案的数量、规模和质量，以及机构承诺尽管经济形势严峻，仍将继续招聘同等水平的实习生。所有METP实习生都是在由教师提名后，根据招生委员会的建议任命的。博士后实习生拥有博士学位。严格的深度研究培训是博士后和博士后培训计划的重点。然而，METP也确保所有受训者接受广泛的教学教育。METP的博士前培训遵循跨学科研究生计划(IGP)的要求。IGP招募了范德比尔特生物医学科学的几乎所有博士前实习生，提供了第一个 一年的核心课程、安全培训、正式评估和职业咨询计划。这一集中招聘极大地提高了进入范德比尔特大学的博士前学生的数量和质量。在四次实验室轮换后，博士后学生为他们的论文项目选择一位导师，并竞争METP的支持。IGP和METP在促进多样性方面非常成功，都提供负责任的研究行为方面的持续培训。所有METP实习生都会参加一年一度的METP日静修和范德比尔特糖尿病中心(VDC)研讨会系列，在那里他们会与来访的科学家会面。与青少年糖尿病研究基金会合作，METP最近启动了一项新的战略，通过创建VDC资助的夏季糖尿病研究计划，增加对残疾人，特别是患有1型糖尿病的本科生的招募。METP已经成功地培训了153名科学家，其中54人已经开始担任学术/药学职位，另有34名受训人员仍在接受培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests continued support for the Molecular Endocrinology Training Program (METP) at Vanderbilt University. Progress towards understanding and curing obesity, diabetes and many other diseases requires the training of the next generation of scientists with expertise in molecular endocrinology, the goal of this program. The METP comprises 30 faculty members in 6 basic science departments. Of this group 27 are established faculty with stable, well-funded programs and substantial training experience and 3 are new investigators; 5 of these preceptors are female, 1 is a minority and 1 is disabled. This preceptor group constitutes a unusually diverse and talented group of individuals whose work covers the spectrum of molecular endocrinology. These preceptors conduct research in the general areas of: 1) signal transduction 2) the hormonal regulation of gene expression, 3) metabolic regulation and 4) beta-cell development and function. The request for a steady state level of 8 predoctoral and 4 postdoctoral trainees is justified on the basis of the number, size and quality of the research programs directed by the preceptors and the Institutional commitment to continue the same level of trainee recruitment despite the tough economic climate. All METP trainees are appointed upon the advice of an Admissions Committee after being nominated by a preceptor. Postdoctoral trainees have a Ph.D. degree. Rigorous in depth research training is the focus of both the pre and postdoctoral training programs. However, the METP also ensures that all trainees receive a broad didactic education. Predoctoral training in the METP follows that received in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP). The IGP recruits almost all predoctoral trainees in the biomedical sciences at Vanderbilt, provides a first year core curriculum, safety training and formal evaluation and career counseling programs. This centralized recruitment has considerably increased the number and quality of predoctoral students that enter Vanderbilt. After four laboratory rotations predoctoral students choose a preceptor for their thesis project and compete for METP support. The IGP and METP have been very successful in promoting diversity and both provide ongoing training in the Responsible Conduct of Research. All METP trainees attend an annual METP Day retreat and the Vanderbilt Diabetes Center (VDC) seminar series where they meet with visiting scientists. In conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation the METP has recently initiated a novel strategy to increase the recruitment of disabled individuals, specifically undergraduates with type 1 diabetes, through the creation of a VDC funded Summer Diabetes Research Program. The METP has already successfully trained 153 scientists of whom 54 have already gone onto assume academic/pharmaceutical positions with another 34 trainees still in training.