The UTMB Department of Surgery T32 research training program provides state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research training experiences for surgical residents interested in diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, pancreas, and liver. Our central goal is to prepare our fellows to become productive, independent physician- scientists and future leaders in academic surgical research. With this competitive renewal application, we are requesting continued support to train three postdoctoral fellows per year. Our highly structured, degree- granting curricula are designed to provide fellows with comprehensive foundational training in essential scientific knowledge, methodologies, technical skills, and ethical considerations pertinent to the effective practice of either basic and translational biomedical laboratory research or comparative effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes research related to GI diseases. Since its inception, the program has trained 32 postdoctoral fellows. Of those who have completed their clinical training, 52% are currently in academic surgery, and half of those have successfully competed for NIH funding. Trainees have been mentored by faculty working at the cutting edge of scientific knowledge and utilized the most up-to-date technologies and experimental approaches available to the field of GI disease research. Initially focused on the endocrinology of gut peptide hormones and large animal models, today our program faculty study the GI microbiome and patho- genic organisms, GI immunology, inflammation and tissue fibrosis, mechanisms of GI tissue normal growth, injury repair, and carcinogenesis, epidemiology and clinical outcomes research. They use genetically modified rodent models, multiple cell-type culture systems, the latest omics technologies and bioinformatics approaches, high resolution molecular imaging, advanced molecular and cellular separation technologies, sophisticated gene editing and expression methods, recombinant DNA, microRNA and reporter gene assays, adaptive cellular transfer procedures, epigenetics, and state-of-the-art methods to isolate, analyze and culture tissue- and disease-specific microbiomes. Our highly collaborative and productive faculty mentors (with 550 publications in the past 5 years, and over $23 million in current grant funding) represent 9 UTMB departments (5 clinical / 4 basic science). This multidisciplinary training environment has fostered the productivity of our fellows, who have published a total of 85 scientific papers (average of 6 papers/fellow; 2.8 first author publica- tions) in the past 10 years. Our strong track record stands as evidence for our success in recruiting minorities and women into our training program. In the past 10 years, 60% have been women and 40% also identified as an underrepresented minority. In summary, we have established a robust record of achievement by preparing our fellows to become productive, independent physician-scientists and future leaders in academic surgical research. With further support from the NIH and NIDDK, we will continue our rich history of success and meet the ever-growing need to prepare well-trained physician-scientists to enter the biomedical workforce.

Public Health Relevance

The need for well-trained surgeon-scientists who possess the knowledge and skills to advance new discoveries into improvements in the diagnosis, care and treatment of surgical patients with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases has never been greater. The University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Surgery T32 research fellowship program is focused on providing state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research training experiences for surgical residents interested in diseases of the GI tract, pancreas, and liver. Our highly structured, degree-granting curricula provide fellows with the comprehensive foundational scientific knowledge, methodologies, technical skills, and ethical considerations needed to solve the surgical healthcare challenges of the 21st century.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32DK007639-27
Application #
9735206
Study Section
Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases D Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Densmore, Christine L
Project Start
1992-09-15
Project End
2023-06-30
Budget Start
2019-07-01
Budget End
2020-06-30
Support Year
27
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771149
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
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