Multidisciplinary Training in Pulmonary Research

This T32 application will establish a Multidisciplinary Training Program in Pulmonary Research at the University of Rochester. We aim to provide multifaceted and personalized training opportunities that will endow our trainees with the skills required to become successful independent researchers, educators, and policy makers in the lung health sciences. Our T32 training program involves internationally recognized, well-funded, and experienced faculty mentors at the University of Rochester (UR). Our expert faculty are dedicated mentors, and are committed to providing their trainees with indepth knowledge and the critical thinking skills to apply and communicate this knowledge to diverse audiences. This training program will support three post-doctoral fellows and four pre-doctoral graduate students annually. Post-doctoral trainees can be either MD fellows from any clinical fellowship in the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), or PhD post-doctoral fellows who are typically recruited by individual faculty mentors. Pre-doctoral trainees can come from any accredited biomedical PhD program at the UR. All trainees will be appointed to the T32 only after rigorous review by the Internal Advisory Committee, with careful consideration about timing of appointment for MD trainees. The Training Plan involves five Core Components: (i) Coursework, (ii) Mentored Research and Grant Writing, (iii) Grant Writing and Scientific Communication, (iv) Multidisciplinary Training, and (v) Professional Development. Our T32 has strong institutional support from by the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Environmental Medicine, and is designed to foster collaborations between basic scientists and clinician scientists. It is led by program leaders who are outstanding mentors, and experienced at addressing challenges faced by PhD and MD researchers. This training program will develop the next generation of scientists conducting high-impact research to improve the health of people suffering from lung diseases.