T35 NEI Medical Student Summer Research Training

Project Summary/Abstract This application seeks to establish a T35 NEI Summer Research Program to enhance medical student research training in the prevention and treatment of eye diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The proposed program will provide short-term training opportunities for medical students in basic and clinical biomedical research focused in areas supported by the NEI. Based on our extensive experience gained from other NIH Research Training grants, we will develop a short-term training program for those medical students enrolled at UT Southwestern as well as outstanding applicants from medical schools across the country. Building upon our collective experience in the identification and pairing of students and mentors, we anticipate that these experiences will continue to enrich the research background of participating medical students with an interest in eye diseases. Besides the mentor-based teaching within the laboratories and clinics, trainees will also receive a comprehensive course in Research Methodology with NEI-specific journal clubs. The program described in this application will employ the outstanding faculty and resources already in place at UT Southwestern that are focused in areas of NEI interest. This program will serve as a focal point to further enrich medical student research activities at UT Southwestern and will enhance existing elements of NEI-funded research on campus.