Cellular & Molecular Cascades in Vision Research

描述（由申请人提供）：未来的视觉科学家必须了解眼科医生/验光师的基本生物学过程和挑战，以有效地利用现代研究工具，追求有关眼睛疾病的新知识，最终导致辅助和新型治疗干预措施的发展。为了促进视觉科学领域的知识传播，视觉科学培训计划的目标是为2名博士生和1名博士后提供基础和研究培训，拥有15名视觉科学教师。该计划的独特之处在于，它包括来自两个独立机构的教师，包括俄克拉何马大学健康科学中心（OUHSC）和俄克拉何马医学研究基金会（OMRF）。参与培训的师资队伍在视觉科学培训计划重点培养的4个学科领域尤为强大：1)视网膜发育与功能，2)视觉转导与信号系统，3)多不饱和脂肪酸代谢，4)眼免疫/发病机制。教师导师已经在OUHSC校园互动了好几年，形成了一个非常适合培养有凝聚力的视觉科学前和博士后团队的网络。该项目招收来自国内和国际的学生和研究员，拥有强大的NIH资助的研究项目，并拥有新的设施，所有这些都营造了一种卓越的培训氛围。博士预科生在完成实验室轮岗和资格考试后才有资格参加培训计划。视觉科学培训计划将通过一系列的课程，其中一些课程专门针对视觉轴和静修，为pre- and - postdoctoral受训者提供4个子学科的深度丰富。博士后研究员被强烈鼓励参加课程和指导博士生，以提高他们的研究生院经验。视觉科学培训计划咨询和选拔委员会选择博士前和博士后受训者，并以咨询的身份行事。每年的互动式视觉科学静修、视觉科学/神经科学期刊俱乐部和视觉科学课程有效地将博士后研究员和培训教师聚集在一个培养卓越的环境中。OUHSC的视觉科学家社区一直并将继续对培训生在未来的眼睛研究职业生涯中发挥重要作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The vision scientist of tomorrow must appreciate fundamental biological processes and challenges of ophthalmologists/optometrists to effectively utilize modern tools of research in the pursuit of new knowledge about diseases of the eye that ultimately lead to the development of adjunct and novel therapeutic interventions. To facilitate the distribution of knowledge in the field of vision science, the Vision Science Training Program goals are to provide fundamental and research training to 2 pre-doctoral and 1 postdoctoral fellow with a vision science faculty of 15 preceptors. The program is unique in that it encompasses faculty from two independent institutions including the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). The participating training faculty is particularly strong in the 4 sub disciplines emphasized in th Vision Science Training Program, which include 1) Retina Development and Function, 2) Visual Transduction and Signaling Systems, 3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolism, and 4) Ocular Immunology/Pathogenesis. The faculty preceptors have interacted on the OUHSC campus for several years, forming a network that is well-suited to train a cohesive group of pre- and postdoctoral fellows in visual sciences. The program recruits students and fellows from national and international sources, has strong NIH funded research programs, and has new facilities, all of which foster an atmosphere of excellence in training. The pre-doctoral students are eligible for the training program after completion of their lab rotations and qualifying exam. The Vision Science Training Program will provide in-depth enrichment in the 4 sub disciplines to the pre- and postdoctoral trainees through a number of classes some of which focus specifically on the visual axis and retreats. Postdoctoral fellows are strongly encouraged to take coursework and to mentor pre- doctoral students to enhance their graduate school experience. The Visual Science Training Program advisory and selection committee selects the pre- and postdoctoral trainees and acts in an advisory capacity. The yearly interactive Vision Science retreat, the Vision Science/Neuroscience Journal Club, and the Vision Science course have been effective in bringing pre and postdoctoral fellows together with the training faculty in an environment that fosters excellence. The community of vision scientists at OUHSC has been and will continue to be important to prepare trainees for future careers in the study of the eye.