Interdisciplinary Training in Virology and Gene Therapy

描述(申请人提供)：病毒学的发展导致了几类疗法的发展，包括治疗或预防微生物感染和基因疗法。基因疗法有望为各种疾病提供治疗选择。基因治疗中的一个关键问题是开发能够逃避免疫或炎症反应、无毒并有效靶向基因的基因递送载体。为了满足全国对这类治疗选择的需求，加州大学洛杉矶分校病毒学和基因治疗培训计划旨在为博士后和博士后学员在与基因治疗相关的领域寻求研究生涯提供一个独特和出色的环境。该计划将在基础病毒学及其在基因治疗中的应用方面建立坚实的培训。我们的研究兴趣包括病毒进入、病毒基因表达调控、病毒基因组复制、病毒感染过程中的细胞生物学、病毒颗粒组装、病毒致癌和病毒免疫学，以及设计新的载体和体内跟踪病毒载体。凭借对逆转录病毒、腺病毒、SV40、丙型肝炎、脊髓灰质炎病毒、流感病毒和疱疹病毒的强大基础研究计划，我们的教职员工一直并将继续开发这些病毒的病毒载体，并使用结合干细胞生物学的非侵入性成像技术监测体内基因表达。学员将在培训期间接触临床和诊断问题，以强调他们的研究项目的治疗应用，并鼓励他们与基础和临床导师形成翻译合作。培训环境中的这一桥梁将促进基因和细胞治疗从基础科学到临床应用的转化。培训计划包括1)与我们的一名或多名教员进行的原创研究工作；2)提供病毒学和基因治疗综合背景的正式课程工作；3)由特邀演讲者、教职员工和受训人员主持的定期研究会议和研讨会；4)研究、负责任的行为和职业发展方面的最佳实践培训。培训委员会将通过竞争过程挑选受训人员。任命可以续签，进展令人满意(博士前最多2年，博士后1年)。该培训计划与加州大学洛杉矶分校重组后的生物科学博士计划完全整合。定期审查受训人员和计划的进展情况。在加州大学洛杉矶分校，这一严格的培训计划强调基础科学和治疗应用的垂直整合，培养出病毒学和基因疗法长期发展所需的科学家。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Developments in virology have led to the development of several classes of therapeutics, including treatments or prevention of microbial infection and gene therapy. Gene therapy holds the promise of therapeutic options for a variety of diseases. A key issue in gene therapy is the development of gene delivery vehicles that evade immune or inflammatory response, are non-toxic, and target the gene effectively. To fulfill the national need for these types of therapeutic options, the UCLA Virology and Gene Therapy Training Program aims to provide a unique and outstanding environment for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees pursuing research careers in fields related to gene therapy. This program will establish a solid training in fundamental virology and its applications in gene therapy. The research interests of our faculty encompass viral entry, viral gene expression regulation, replication of viral genome, cell biology during viral infection, viral particle assembly, viral carcinogenesis and viral immunology, as well as designing novel vectors and tracking viral vectors in vivo. With strong basic research programs on retroviruses, adenoviruses, SV40, hepatitis C, poliovirus, influenza virus and herpesviruses, our faculty has been and will be continuously developing viral vectors from these viruses and monitoring gene expression in vivo using non-invasive imaging technologies in combination stem cell biology. The trainees will be exposed to clinical and diagnostic issues during their training to underscore the therapeutic applications of their research projects, and be encouraged to form translational collaborations with basic and clinical mentors. This bridge in training environment will enhance the translation from basic science to clinical application in gene and cellular therapy. The training program constitutes 1) original research work with one or more of our faculty; 2) formal course work which provides comprehensive background on virology and gene therapy; and 3) regular research conferences and seminars, presented by invited guest speakers, faculty members and trainees; 4) training in best practices in research, responsible conduct and career development. The training committee will select trainees via a competitive process. Appointments are renewable with satisfactory progress (up to 2 years predoctoral, 1 year postdoctoral). The training program is fully integrated with the reorganized PhD programs in biosciences at UCLA. The progress of the trainees and the program are reviewed periodically. At UCLA, this rigorous training program with emphasis on vertical integration of basic sciences and therapeutic applications produces the scientists required for long-term development of virology and gene therapy.