Training Program in Imaging Sciences in Translational Cardiovascular Research

成像技术的进步导致了科学和医学的发现。相反，紧迫的问题在 科学和医学驱动成像技术发展的创新，强调根本 成像和生物医学研究之间的共生。将影像与生物医学科学联系起来的必要性 在心血管研究中尤为突出，从整个器官对心脏和血管系统进行成像 到分子水平，数字在将发现转化为床边诊断和治疗方面表现突出。AS 这样，成像科学家必须了解什么问题在生物医学研究中是重要的，而生物医学 科学家必须熟练掌握能够促进发现的成像技术。我们的首个T32计划 (2016)--匹兹堡大学心脏病学第一名--的动机是认识到 能够熟练地在成像科学和生物医学研究领域之间穿梭的科学家， 最终损害了研究工作的翻译相关性，并导致了“死亡之谷” 基础发现与临床应用相分离。为了弥合这一鸿沟，我们的新T32程序使用了 创新的教育模式，培养临床和基础研究人员的广泛前沿， 多模式成像平台，他们追求假设驱动的研究，重点是翻译 心血管研究。而其他机构的T32专注于传统的心血管成像工具(例如， 我们的T32在将生物成像与生物科学和物理科学相结合方面是独一无二的。我们的 该计划旨在使博士后实习生(医学博士或博士)获得成像方面的“核心能力” 跨分子到整个生物体的研究方法(“影像工具包”)和跨生物的翻译研究方法 从基础到总体水平(“翻译工具包”)--通过共同指导结构完成，每个 学员有一位来自成像科学的导师，另一位来自生物医学科学领域的导师。我们的方法 围绕具有可量化里程碑的个性化发展计划构建，例如演示文稿、 出版物、助学金、授课课程或硕士学位结业。现在，我们的第一笔资金已经过去了4.2年 周期，我们寻求竞争性更新我们的计划基于其令人信服的前提和未满足的培训需求； 它在NHLBI产品组合中占据了一个重要的利基市场(只有2%的NHLBI T32是以成像为重点的)； 优秀、科学多样、资金充足的培训人员；以及我们新项目的成功成果 到目前为止。在我们2019年心脏病学奖学金竞赛的8个职位(700名申请者)中，有4个职位由医学博士填补 致力于我们的T32计划，突出了我们培养未来MD科学家的使命。维拉纽瓦博士，一位 心脏病专家、影像专家和研究人员，拥有丰富的指导经验，干练地领导着我们的年轻人 与3名经验丰富的联席董事和顾问委员会共同参与计划。我们的T32由机构增强 捐赠，心、肺、血液和血管医学研究所的研究核心，丰富的基础设施 来自临床科学翻译研究所，以及与其他机构翻译的T32的互动。

Advances in imaging technology lead to discoveries in science and medicine. Conversely, pressing questions in science and medicine drive innovation in imaging technology development, underscoring the fundamental symbiosis between imaging and biomedical research. The necessity to connect imaging and biomedical science is particularly salient in cardiovascular research, where imaging the heart and vascular system, from whole organ to molecular levels, figures prominently in the translation of discoveries to bedside diagnosis and treatment. As such, imaging scientists must understand what questions are important in biomedical research, while biomedical scientists must be fluent in the imaging technologies that can facilitate discovery. Our inaugural T32 program (2016)– the first in Cardiology at University of Pittsburgh – was motivated by the recognition that there is a paucity of scientists who can adeptly commute between the imaging science and biomedical research spheres, ultimately compromising the translational relevance of research efforts, and contributing to the “Valley of Death” separating basic discovery and clinical application. To bridge this chasm, our new T32 Program used an innovative educational paradigm to train clinical and basic researchers in a broad spectrum of cutting-edge, multimodality imaging platforms as they pursue hypothesis-driven research, with an emphasis on translational cardiovascular research. While T32s at other institutions focus on traditional cardiovascular imaging tools (e.g., MRI, Echo), our T32 is unique in integrating biological imaging within the biological and physical sciences. Our program was designed such that post-doctoral trainees (MD or PhD) acquire “core competencies” in imaging methods spanning molecular to whole organism (“imaging tool kit”), and translational research methods spanning basic to population levels (“translational tool kit’) – accomplished through a co-mentorship structure, with each trainee having one mentor from imaging sciences and another from the biomedical science arena. Our approach is structured around Individualized Development Plans that have quantifiable milestones, e.g., presentations, publications, grants, didactic courses, or completion of Master’s degrees. Now 4.2 years into our first funding cycle, we seek competitive renewal of our program based on its compelling premise and unmet training need; its occupancy of an important niche in the NHLBI portfolio (only 2% of NHLBI T32s are imaging-focused); the 37 excellent, scientifically diverse, well-funded training faculty; and the successful outcomes of our nascent program thus far. In our 2019 Cardiology Fellowship match for 8 positions (>700 applicants), 4 were filled by MDs committed to our T32 program, highlighting our mandate to train future MD scientists. Dr. Villanueva, a cardiologist, imaging specialist, and researcher with extensive mentoring experience, has ably led our young program alongside 3 seasoned co-Directors and Advisory Boards. Our T32 is enhanced by institutional endowments, research Cores of the Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, a rich infrastructure from the Clinical Sciences Translational Institute, and interactions with other institutional translational T32s.