Multidisciplinary Training Program in Pediatric Lung Diseases

The goals of the T32 Multidisciplinary Training Program in Pediatric Lung Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are: (1) To provide a mechanism for training by which postdoctoral fellows can pursue and develop successful academic careers in clinical, translational, or basic research dedicated to improving child lung health; (2) To advance pediatric lung research through training physician scientists and PhD scientists in the areas of (a) genetic and rare lung diseases, including interstitial lung disease (ILD), cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and pulmonary vascular disease, (b) lung injury, repair, and development, (c) asthma and inflammatory lung diseases, and (d) respiratory physiology; and (3) To create collaboration among trainees and established investigators to promote a spectrum of patient-oriented and basic investigation, resulting in rigorous and high impact advances in respiratory health in children. The proposed training program will provide 2-3 years of training in pediatric lung-related research at the postdoctoral level for qualified candidates with an MD, MD/PhD, or DO degree and 1-3 years of training for those with a PhD degree. We are requesting support for 4 post-doctoral fellows/year. This training program is the result of a robust collaboration between research faculty members with multiple areas of expertise. These faculty offer mentored training in patient-oriented or basic research within the four thematic areas noted above. The mentor-mentee relationship between research preceptor and trainee will be central to the training experience, which will be supplemented by formal training in clinical and laboratory investigation, preparation of grant applications, participation in a responsible conduct of research curriculum and program-wide conferences, presentation of original research at national scientific meetings, and publication of original research in peer-reviewed journals. Drs. Lisa Young and Sharon McGrath-Morrow are the Program Directors and will have overall responsibility for coordination of the program, including its scientific, educational, and administrative aspects. To support excellence in the research training of this T32 program, the Program Directors will receive consultation from an Internal Steering Committee and an External Advisory Board. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has one of the largest and strongest pediatric pulmonary fellowship programs in the country and is the oldest children’s hospital in the United States. The Program Directors have trained many leaders in the field for Pediatric Pulmonology and are uniquely positioned to facilitate success among postdoctoral trainees who will become physician scientists and researchers in pediatric lung-related research.