NSERC CREATE - International Research Training Group in Membrane Biology

NSERC CREATE膜生物学国际研究训练组（IRTG）的目标是培养一批能够擅长研究不同生物膜蛋白的研究生。该培训计划的目标是NSERC健康及相关生命科学和技术的优先领域。通过让学员在培训期间接触具有国际竞争力的前沿研究，他们将培养国际视野和顶尖研究所需的态度。膜蛋白在生命中占有中心地位。它们驻留在细胞膜上，调节进出细胞的分子和信息的流动。事实上，解决人类当前的许多问题需要理解和操纵膜蛋白的能力：大多数药物直接针对膜蛋白，例如g蛋白偶联受体。在植物中，膜蛋白控制着营养物质的吸收和植物产物的分泌。农业植物在盐碱地中的生存能力是由膜蛋白控制的。研究膜蛋白功能所需要的技术具有挑战性，并且与可溶性蛋白功能不同。因此，研究膜蛋白的挑战需要一套复杂的研究技术和协作、支持的研究环境。这个IRTG的加拿大部分是由阿尔伯塔大学的膜蛋白研究小组组成的，该小组的卓越表现在大学的战略计划中得到了认可。自2008年以来，我们与德国凯泽斯劳滕工业大学和萨尔大学的合作伙伴加强了研究互动。我们共同制定了IRTG，其中包括：在合作机构进行6个月的研究，研究膜蛋白所需的技术培训，工业访问，有组织的研究伦理培训，管理培训以及口头和书面科学交流培训。膜生物学的IRTG将支持16名研究生和3名博士后在德国进行为期3年的培训和6个月的研究。此外，还有19名受训人员将参加培训方案，他们的津贴由外部来源提供。

The goal of the NSERC CREATE International Research Training Group (IRTG) in Membrane Biology is to train a cohort of graduate students who can excel at research on membrane proteins from diverse organisms. This training program targets the NSERC Priority area of Health and Related Life Sciences and technologies. By exposing our trainees to internationally-competitive cutting edge research during their formative training years, they will develop an international perspective and the attitude required for top research. Membrane proteins have a central place in life. They reside in cellular membranes and regulate the flow of molecules and information moving into and out of cells. Indeed, solving many of humanity's current problems requires the ability to understand and manipulate membrane proteins: The majority of drugs directly target membrane proteins, for example G-protein coupled receptors. In plants membrane proteins control uptake of nutrients and secretion of plant products. The ability of agricultural plants to survive in saline soil is controlled by membrane proteins. The techniques needed to study membrane protein function are challenging and function distinctly from soluble proteins. The challenges in studying membrane proteins thus require an elaborate set of research techniques and a collaborative, supportive research environment. The Canadian component of this IRTG is made of the University of Alberta's Membrane Protein Research Group, whose excellence is recognized in the University's Strategic Plan. With our partners in Germany's Technical University Kaiserslautern and Saarland University we have increased our research interactions since 2008. Together we have developed an IRTG that includes: six months of research at the partner institution, training in the techniques required to study membrane proteins, industrial visits, organized research ethics training, management training, and training in oral and written science communication. The IRTG in Membrane Biology will support three years of training and six months of research in Germany for 16 graduate students and 3 postdoctoral fellows. In addition, 19 other trainees will be enrolled in the training program, their stipends supported by external sources.