Training Program in Ion Channel and Transporter Biology

 描述(申请人提供)：离子通道和转运蛋白是普遍存在的分子，它们具有多种重要的生理功能，为许多类型的药理制剂提供靶标，并由基因编码，这些基因可能是影响神经系统和其他组织的遗传性疾病的基础。该提案描述了离子通道和转运蛋白生物学培训计划的继续，该计划将为博士后科学家提供多学科的研究培训。这一高度集中的培训计划涉及28名由NIH资助的导师(总资金和GT；每年4400万美元的直接成本)，隶属于范德比尔特大学的13个不同的学术部门和10个研究中心，他们在离子通道和转运体领域取得了良好的成就，并致力于培养博士后研究员。这一跨部门培训计划利用了该研究领域20多年来机构和多学科力量的历史。该项目始于2001年，最初只有19名教职员工，自那时以来，已经成功填补了所有资助职位。尽管该培训项目最初包括博士后培训，但自2010年以来，该项目只专注于博士后培训。博士后实习生是从申请教授实验室以及范德比尔特大学参与中心和系的申请者中挑选出来的。多方面的招聘战略将继续吸引来自任职人数不足群体的高素质个人。在本供资周期内，有3/12(25%)的受训人员是市政厅主任。除了密集的研究经验，受训者还将有授课要求，包括一门关于赠款撰写的重点课程，一项致力于在赠款撰写、指导和职业指导方面进行个性化培训的创新方案小组会议。高素质的教师导师，跨学科性质的培训机会，强大的 机构的优势结合在一起，创造了一个独特的环境，适合培训计划的目标，即培养对离子通道和转运体生物学领域的生物医学研究有坚定承诺的科学家。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Ion channels and transporter proteins are ubiquitous molecules that serve a variety of important physiological functions, provide targets for many types of pharmacological agents, and are encoded by genes that can be the basis for inherited diseases affecting the nervous system and other tissues. This proposal describes the continuation of a Training Program in Ion Channel and Transporter Biology that will provide multidisciplinary research training for postdoctoral scientists. This highly focused training program involves 28 NIH-funded preceptors (aggregate funding >$44,000,000 direct costs/year) affiliated with 13 different academic departments and 10 research centers at Vanderbilt University with strong records of accomplishments in the ion channel and transporter field, and with a deep commitment to training postdoctoral fellows. This interdepartmental training program capitalizes on a over 20-year history of institutional and multidisciplinary strength in ths research field. The program began initially in 2001 with only 19 faculty and has successfully filled all funded positions since that time. Although the training program originally included predoctoral training, since 2010 the program has focused solely on postdoctoral training. Postdoctoral trainees are selected from the pool of applicants that apply to preceptor laboratories as well as to participating centers and departments at Vanderbilt University. A multi-faceted recruitment strategy will continue to attract highly qualified individuals from underrepresented groups (URM). During the current funding cycle, 3/12 (25%) of trainees were URMs. In addition to intensive research experiences, trainees will have didactic course requirements that include a focused course on grant writing, an innovative program group meetings devoted to individualized training in grant writing, mentoring and career guidance. The high caliber of faculty mentors, the interdisciplinary nature of training opportunities, the strong institutional strengths combine to foster a unique environment suited to the goal of the training program, which is to develop scientists with strong commitments to biomedical research in the area of ion channel and transporter biology.