Caltech/UCLA Individualized Theranostic Engineering to Advance Metabolic System (iTEAM)

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) partnership seeks continued funding to integrate advanced imaging and sensing with computing needed to translate technological innovation critical to addressing the global cardiometabolic disease epidemic. The integrated Theranostic Engineering to Advance Metabolic Medicine (iTEAM) Program represents a new frontier to formalize a 2-year, structured curriculum with an emphasis on recruiting post-doctoral engineers or physical scientists into leadership roles in academia and industry. The convergence of Caltech's fundamental strengths and UCLA’s translational science is conducive to training iTEAM scholars in interfacing AI/ML with 1) advanced imaging and 2) sensing to mitigate 3) cardiometabolic disorders. During the first cycle, the iTEAM program has accomplished key advances in this space via our bi-annual symposiums alternating between two campuses. These symposiums have spawned opportunities for collaboration and interaction with faculty, trainees, clinical scientists, entrepreneurs from industry, and members from our Advisory Committees. As a result, 50% (3 out of 6) of our trainees completing the 2-year training have been offered tenured faculty positions, one is pursuing industry leadership in R&D, and two are continuing research funded by an AHA post-doc and the institution. For the next cycle, iTEAM has enlisted new early and mid-career mentors at a range of career stages from Caltech, UCLA Bioengineering, and UCLA Medicine to help recruit and retain a talented cohort of trainees. To continue the iTEAM trajectory, we have developed a co-mentoring and self-evaluating structure enlisting 27 seasoned mentors, 10 emerging faculty (9 mid-career), 22 clinical faculty (50% mid-career), and 10 industry leaders (30% early career). Each iTEAM scholar will have co-mentorships: a primary mentor from enabling technologies and a secondary mentor from clinical science and/or entrepreneurship/industry. Our early career faculty will have opportunities to co-mentor and co-chair various operational committees with the senior mentors, with an intentional focus on increasing their leadership opportunities. In Year 1, iTEAM scholars will: 1) Develop an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) with the Advising & Training Committee to finalize the project; 2) Strengthen fundamental knowledge in advanced imaging, sensors, and computation skills; and 3) Be trained in Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research via didactic courses and interactive seminars. In Year 2, iTEAM scholars will be afforded: 1) an opportunity to present work-in-progress in quarterly meetings with primary and co-mentors, and 2) to participate in UCLA CTSI-sponsored professional development for an academic or entrepreneurship/industry career. Both Caltech and UCLA Deans have reaffirmed matching funds for each scholar. UCLA Vice Provost has also committed supplemental support for the post-graduate trainees. Overall, this program will infuse the scientific workforce with the next generation of bioengineers prepared to solve the worldwide threat of cardiometabolic disorders.