The primary goal of the Ph.D. Training Program in Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (MPET) in the Mayo Graduate School is the development of independent investigators capable of directing outstanding research Programs in academia, industry or other settings. The faculty is comprised of 28 well- funded, independent investigators, who focus on a continuum of research areas encompassing studies from basic molecular and genetic aspects of disease through drug discovery and development of novel therapies for cardiovascular and malignant diseases. The faculty provides training opportunities in areas that include computational chemistry, molecular mechanisms of drug action and resistance, metabolomics, novel therapeutic strategies, the genetics of addiction, preclinical and clinical pharmacology, and pharmacogenomics of genes associated with drug responses. Twenty-six predoctoral students are currently enrolled in the MPET Ph.D. training program. A rigorous didactic curriculum includes a series of Core Curriculum courses that ensures a strong fundamental knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, statistics, cell biology and pharmacology and a series of tutorial-based courses to provide students with advanced training in molecular pharmacology. During their first two years of study, students complete at least 3 laboratory rotations and select a laboratory for their thesis research. They sit for comprehensive written and oral qualifying examinations at the end of year two. After developing a written thesis proposal delineating the questions and approaches to be pursued in the thesis research, the thesis committee reviews the proposed research at the first committee meeting. Student's present work-in-progress updates on their research projects to MPET faculty and students each year. Students are required to publish completed work in a timely manner and encouraged to attend national meetings to present their work. The average time to completion of the Ph.D. Program is 5.2 years. Starting in Year 3 and beyond, students meet with their thesis committees at least twice per year and are mentored to identify outstanding postdoctoral training opportunities as the next step in their career development. Graduates of the MPET Ph.D. training program have outstanding track records. They go on to postdoctoral fellowships, with many now serving as principal investigators in academia and industry. We request 4 positions for the next funding period.

Public Health Relevance

For over three decades the Mayo Clinic Graduate School Ph.D. training program in Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (MPET) has been training outstanding researchers with the interdisciplinary background and skills to make exciting basic research discoveries and then propel them toward novel therapies for human diseases. We are requesting funding to support a program with a track record of producing outstanding scientists.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32GM072474-10
Application #
8851608
Study Section
National Institute of General Medical Sciences Initial Review Group (BRT)
Program Officer
Okita, Richard T
Project Start
2005-08-10
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Kurmi, Kiran; Hitosugi, Sadae; Yu, Jia et al. (2018) Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase 1 Enhances a Druggable Tumor Energy Shuttle Pathway. Cell Metab 28:833-847.e8
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Ding, Yonghe; Long, Pamela A; Bos, J Martijn et al. (2017) A modifier screen identifies DNAJB6 as a cardiomyopathy susceptibility gene. JCI Insight 2:
Long, Pamela A; Theis, Jeanne L; Shih, Yu-Huan et al. (2017) Recessive TAF1A mutations reveal ribosomopathy in siblings with end-stage pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy. Hum Mol Genet 26:2874-2881
Mamo, Tewodros; Mladek, Ann C; Shogren, Kris L et al. (2017) Inhibiting DNA-PKCS radiosensitizes human osteosarcoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 486:307-313
Kapplinger, Jamie D; Erickson, Anders; Asuri, Sirisha et al. (2017) KCNQ1 p.L353L affects splicing and modifies the phenotype in a founder population with long QT syndrome type 1. J Med Genet 54:390-398

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