EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED. This is a competitive renewal for the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. We are asking for an increase in the number of trainees supported by the NIH to 23. During the last 5 years, Mount Sinaii has undergone a major expansion of its research enterprise, including the opening and full occupancy of the East Building. Over 100 new research faculty have been recruited, ~ 60 of which have been added to the MSTP training faculty, representing a wide array of research disciplines and utilizing state-of-the-art research techniques. New institution-wide Core facilities have been developed to support this research expansion. Mount Sinai has approved a new Strategic Plan, the centerpiece of which is the construction of a Translational Research building and broad new recruitment initiatives in basic and clinical research. Al Graduate training has been organized in 6 Multidisciplinsry Training Areas (MTAs): Biophysics, Structural Biology & Biomathematics; Genetics & Genomic Sciences; Molecular, Cellular, Biochemical and Developmental Sciences; Mechanism: of Disease Therapy, Mount Sinai Microbiology; and Neurosciences. Ongoing changes in the Graduate School curriculum continue to provide new flexibility and maximize opportunities for trainees to individualize their advanced coursework. The Medical School has introduced a New Curriculum that features a marked reduction in the number of large lectures in favor o small groups and a focus on problem-based learning. This Curriculum allows MSTP students to complete many of their Graduate School course requirements in years 1 and 2 and provides new opportunities to interact with academically-oriented clinicians. The MSTP has a new Director, Dr. Mark B. Taubman, and it has been restructured to provide it with an identity distinct from the Medical and Graduate Schools in advance of plans to increase its size. Most trainees are drawn from the 'extramural applicant pool' into year 1 of the dual Program, but additional outstanding applicants are considered from intramural vlD and PhD programs. All trainees participate in Core PhD coursework and Research Rotations during the initial part of the Program. Multiple levels of advisory oversight help trainees choose a preceptor and guide, monitor, and integrate all aspects of their progress to the completion of their PhD thesis. The program provides trainees with considerable flexibility to meet their specific interests and training goals. However, every trainee's program of research and clinical training provides the rigor and skills in confronting, analyzing, and solving new problems that are essential for work in rapidly changing areas of biomedical sciences. All trainees complete their PhD work before entering the clinical clerkships. Enhanced contact with clinicians throughout the PhD phase, an intensive clinical refresher, and a flexible schedule help trainees integrate easily into the clinical setting. New programs are designed to provide comprehensive career guidance to help insure that graduates can achieve their long-term clinical and independent research goals. PERFORMANCE SITE ========================================Section End===========================================
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