Pediatric Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research Training Program

Award #: 1T32HL125241

Predoc slots2
Postdoc slots4

This training program is designed to attract and train both predoctoral and postdoctoral investigators in basic investigation of childhood diseases related to cardiovascular and pulmonary biology. The need for a training program in the cellular/molecular basis of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, especially of physician-scientists interested in childhood diseases, is based upon clear evidence of a small, national pool of such individuals as faculty or trainees.

Our program is designed to address this need from two important perspectives

  • to allow pediatric and other clinical fellows, with an interest in basic research, to develop research competence and career training;
  • to attract and train talented basic scientists to study mechanisms related to childhood diseases.

In addition to continuing our strong training in developmental/cell biology and the molecular basis of disease, our program takes advantage of institutional strengths in genetics, stem cell biology, genomics and bioinformatics — all of which are components of the foundation of modern research. We have adopted a training curriculum for four postdoctoral and two predoctoral fellows with an uninterrupted two to three year block of full-time investigation. This is combined with an integrated and multidisciplinary set of didactic seminars, journal clubs, and formal courses that are selected by the trainee in consultation with the mentor/program administrators to provide individualized education in key aspects of cardiopulmonary development and disease.

Our objectives are:

  • to provide extensive mentoring to the trainee for career development and for developing independent research plans that focus on pediatric diseases;
  • to promote training in basic cell and molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics together with clinical translational research;
  • to guide the trainees’ development so that, after the completion of training, successful competition for independent funding is likely.

Principal investigators

Mentors

Program FacultyDepartment or InstitutionRole in Program
Blumer, KendallCell Biology and PhysiologyMentor
Boon, JaccoMedicine / Infectious DiseasesMentor
Bubeck-Wardenburg, JulianePediatrics / Critical CareMentor, PD
Choi, KyungheePathology and ImmunologyMentor
Cole, F. SessionsPediatrics/ Genetic & GenomicsMentor
Dickson, PatriciaMedicine / Cardiology (Genetics)Mentor
Dinauer, MaryPediatrics / HematologyMentor
Dutcher, SusanGenetics (Cell Biology and Physiology)Mentor
Gelman, AndrewSurgeryMentor
Greenberg, Michael J.Biochemistry & Molecular BiophysicsMentor
Halabi, CarmenPediatrics / NephrologyMentor
Holtzman, MichaelMedicine / PulmonaryMentor
Horani, AmjadPediatrics / Allergy, Immun & PulmonaryMentor
Hotchkiss, RichardAnesthesiology Mentor
Hruska, KeithPediatrics / NephrologyMentor
Khaber, ShabaanaMolecular MicrobiologyMentor
Lavine, KoryMedicine / CardiologyMentor, PD
Mecham, RobertCell Biology and PhysiologyMentor
Milbrant, JeffreyGeneticsMentor
Morris, SamanthaDevelopmental 
Biology		Mentor
Nerbonne, JeanneDevelopmental BiologyMentor / Executive Committee
Nichols, ColinCell Biology and PhysiologyMentor
Ornitz, DavidDevelopmental BiologyMentor / Executive Committee
Ortinau, CindyPediatric / Newborn MedicineMentor
Philips, JenniferMolecular MicrobiologyMentor
Province, MichaelGeneticsMentor
Randolph, GwendalynPathology / ImmunologyMentor
Rentschler, StaceyMedicine / CardiovascularMentor
Rosen, DavidPediatrics / Infectious DiseasesMentor
Solnica-Krezek, LiliannaDevelopmental BiologyMentor
Stallings, ChristinaMolecular MicrobiologyMentor
Steed, AshleyPediatrics / Critical CareMentor
Stratman, AmberCell Biology & PhysiologyMentor
Wagenseil, JessicaMechanical Engineering & Materials ScienceMentor
Yoo, AndrewDevelopmental BiologyMentor