Diabetes Mellitus and Disorders of Metabolism

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal seeks continued support for the Yale research training program in Diabetes Mellitus and Disorders of Metabolism. This program remains the core of support for postdoctoral research training in diabetes and metabolic diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. We strive to provide physicians and scientists with the training required to pursue academic careers in clinical, translational and basic research. Physician trainees entering the program will have MD or MD, PhD degress and at least 2-3 years of clinical training in internal medicine or pediatrics. Post-doctoral PhD scientist are also recruited into the program since we believe an integrated training experience bringing together adult endocrinologists, pediatric endocrinologists and endocrine scientists will prepare our trainees to participate in modern multidisciplinary research groups. We also now propose to introduce pre-doctoral PhD and MD, PhD students selected from the Yale Graduate School and MSTP programs who will enter the new Yale graduate BBS Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB). All trainees will be selected based on their aptitude and commitment to research careers in diabetes and/or metabolism. Post-doctoral training will encompass at least three years to ensure an in-depth training experience leading to an independent research career. Pre-doctoral training is anticipated to cover years 3 and 4 of the PhD degree. The cornerstone of both curricula is participation in a specific research project under the supervision of a designated preceptor and guided by a progress committee or thesis committee composed of 2-3 other members of the training faculty. Potential projects run the gamut from clinical to basic research in 3 primary areas of emphasis: 1) T1D, 2) T2D, and 3) bone and mineral metabolism. Trainees have the opportunity to work with mentors in multiple basic science departments as well as those in Pediatrics and Medicine. Close interactions among preceptors and trainees within each programmatic area are enhanced by the interdepartmental Diabetes Research Center adminstered within the Endocrine Section. In this cycle, we have also recruited members of the new basic science focused Yale Center for Molecular and System Metabolism to further enrich research opportunites. Instruction is also provided through organized lectures, research seminars and journal clubs. The application requests a reduced allotment of 5 post-doctoral stipends per year as well as 2 new pre-doctoral slots to support graduate student education in the PTB. This request is based on our longstanding and outstanding track record of training successful investigators who remain in academic research careers, our ongoing ability to attract outstanding applicants, the high level of research productivity of our training faculty, the expansive palette of research opportunities provided by our faculty and the continued shortage of physician-scientists and scientists that are dedicated to research careers in diabetes and metabolic diseases.