Combined Training Program in Digestive Disease Sciences

This application requests continuation of funding for a Combined Training Program in Digestive Disease Sciences (CTPDDS). The overall goal of the program is to train qualified individuals with a MD, PhD, MD/PhD or equivalent degree committed to a research career in the broad field of digestive health sciences. The program will educate such individuals in a comprehensive fashion so that, upon completing the program, they will be able to excel as independent investigators and successfully compete for funding at the national level. The foundation of the proposed program is based on the strategic planning, consolidated efforts and close academic integration of the Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University as well as affiliated basic science Departments at both institutions. The recruited faculty enjoys a reputation of academic excellence based on superior clinical, translational and basic research, ample funding from the NIH, and has a combined research space in excess of 100,000 square feet. A unique aspect of the program is its Multiple PD/PI approach, which allows research to span departmental boundaries and enlist a variety of mentors with a tradition of highly productive collaborations who have trained a large number of young investigators in an effective interdisciplinary manner. Nearly 40 Mentors and Co-Mentors from 13 Departments/Programs, representing a wide range of scientific interest and expertise at both institutions, are prepared to offer a variety of training opportunities that will be tailored to the scientific interest and career goals of each trainee. The specific expertise and main research areas of the preceptors will include Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Mucosal Immunology, Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Disease, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Liver Disease, and Genetics. In addition to the resources available in the laboratories of individual Mentors, the trainees will take advantage of the combined rich scientific environment of the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. This application seeks 4 post-doctoral positions in year 1, and 4 new trainee positions in each of the subsequent years during a projected total funding period of 5 years. Each successful applicant will be trained for a minimum period of two years by the institutional grant.