Craniofacial Oral-biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR)

This application is for renewal of the T32 training grant COSTAR (Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in Academic Research). In the last 15 years, COSTAR mentors have trained 17 DDS/PhD students, 28 PhD students and 16 postdoctoral fellows. We are particularly pleased with the long-term outcome of our COSTAR alumni. Over the last 15 years, 82% (50/61) of our trainees have careers in science research, teaching, or are still in training. Impressively, 78% of our DDS/PhD students successfully competed and received F Awards, F00/R99 or R grants. Based upon these objective measures of success and our continual self-assessment process, we propose a renewal for an additional five- year period of support. Our focused goal remains devoted to train a cadre of highly skilled, interactive scientists who can successfully address the new opportunities in dental, oral, and craniofacial research and become a part of the future academic faculty in US dental schools. Our Aims are to: 1) to recruit outstanding trainees from a qualified pool of applicants; 2) to train them in rigorous, transparent, ethical state-of-the-art research methods, including team science; and 3) to nurture them in a culture of translational science. The COSTAR program will offer three integrated training tracks: 1) DDS/PhD program, 2) PhD program, and 3) Postdoctoral research fellowships. These three training tracks are provided in three integrated thematic areas by a highly selected, research intensive, and collaborative, Program Faculty representing the best mentors across the Dental, Medical, and Graduate Schools at UTHSCSA, and united by their shared interest in Craniofacial Oral Biology research. Thus, COSTAR serves as a strong institutional nexus for an exceptional multi- and inter- disciplinary research and training environment further enhancing the institutional infrastructure for research in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Biology. Highly motivated and dedicated students and fellows who are selected for research training in the COSTAR program will participate in a series of COSTAR core courses and experiences that are integrated with programs across the Dental School and the campus at large. Importantly, COSTAR-sponsored activities yield a strong programmatic identity, collaboration, and networking among trainees. By formally developing, a tracking and analyzing plan focused on continuously improving our training program, the COSTAR Leadership Council and Advisory Boards provide an optimal environment for research training of new scientists in Craniofacial Oral Biology following the tradition of our long- term success in academia of former trainees at the UTHSCSA.