PATHOBIOLOGY OF OCCLUSIVE VASCULAR DISEASE

This proposal defines a continuation of a multi-disciplinary postdoctoral research training program toannually support six graduates of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or the basic biomedical sciences.This training program has an impressive record of successfully training young scientists over the past 34 years;of completed trainees in the past ten years (32) and those currently in the program (5), 34 of 37 (92%) arecurrently in science/medicine, 5 (14%) have held a MD degree, 11 (30%) have been from an underrepresentedpopulation in science, and 12 of 32 (38%) received independent funding while supported by the program. Ofnote, these strong outcomes are unchanged throughout the past two decades of the program. Herein, weprovide plans to extend this robust cardiovascular research training program with postdoctoral traineeoversight provided in the well-funded, interactive laboratories of 25 investigators from the Departments ofBiochemistry, Cellular/Structural Biology, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Medicine, Neurosurgery,Opthalmology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Surgery at the University of TexasHealth Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) and the Departments of Mechanical Engineering at theUniversity of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Genetics at the Southwest National Primate Research Center(SNPR). In brief, principal components of the training program include: (1) active participation with gradedresponsibility in the research laboratory of an experienced investigator; (2) a commitment to collaboration andthe use of multidisciplinary research approaches; (3) continuing research-in-progress seminars; (4) integratedlecture/journal club series on topics in cardiovascular science; (5) didactic courses and seminars in theresponsible conduct of research, scientific communications, and grantsmanship/peer review; (6) a groupmentoring environment with a rigorous mentorship plan; (7) preparation of an individual development plan(IDP) and the comprehensive, routine evaluation of trainee progress; (8) submission of an independent grantapplication; (9) the continued evaluation and teaching of mentoring skills to faculty preceptors; and (10) theactive recruitment of meritorious trainees and faculty preceptors that also well reflect workforce diversity.Trainee access to on-going departmental conferences, seminars, clinical rounds, pre- and postdoctoralcourses further enhances the training experience. Research areas are encompassed within three investigativethemes: (1) Inflammation, Cell Injury, and Adaptation; (2) Diabetes; and (3) Cardiovascular Pathophysiology.Integration of these overlapping research themes incorporates contemporary (basic and clinical) biomedicalscience investigations essential to understanding the mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular disease.Given the complexities, morbidity, and mortality associated with occlusive cardiovascular disease in developedcountries, this postdoctoral research training program will continue to provide scientists with the necessarycompetencies and breadth of expertise needed for future biomedical research.