The purpose of the Training Program in Transfusion Medicine and Hematology is to provide research training in transfusion medicine and the scientific disciplines related to Hematology in order to develop academically oriented physician-scientists and nonphysician scientists with expertise in the performance of both basic and clinical research. Upon completion of this program, each trainee will be qualified to assume a medical school faculty position and conduct an independent program of clinical or laboratory investigation in one of the fields of study included in this program, including Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine (Track I);Hemoglobin, Hematopoiesis and Cellular Therapy (Track II);Coagulation and Thrombosis (Track III);and Molecular Biology, Molecular Signaling, and Genetics (Track IV). In each of these tracks, exposure to the clinical aspects of the area selected (comprising less than 20 per cent of the total trainee time during the tenure of this fellowship) will be provided to permit the trainee to understand the clinical context in which the research which he or she is to undertake is placed. The remainder of the time (at least 80%) will be spent in a defined tutorial research program with a preceptor in one of the laboratories or clinical investigation areas described in this grant proposal. The trainees in all tracks will also take part in an inter- and intradepartmental didactic program, including both standardized curricular content as well as topical seminars and conferences. Each trainee will be expected to report orally and in writing on the research being performed at regular intervals. The trainee will also be encouraged to take additional course work at Duke University it that will enhance his/her ability to achieve satisfactory completion of his/her work. Trainees in areas of clinical investigation will be encouraged to pursue a masters in health sciences in clinical research degree granted by the Duke University Clinical Research Training Program;at a minimum, they will be expected to complete an introductory course in statistics and attend the training program's own course in clinical investigation. The training program funded by this award will be offered to qualified persons holding either the M.D. or Ph.D. degree with interests in research training in transfusion medicine and hematology;at least one trainee will be recruited specifically into the field of genomics and hemoglobinopathies. Persons from minority groups and women will be encouraged to enter the program. No predoctoral or primarily clinical competence training will be funded by this grant. The facilities for research training will be based at the various research laboratories and clinics of Duke University and the allied Veterans'Administration Medical Centers in Durham, North Carolina. Fulfillment of the training goals of this program will meet present and future needs for scientists and physician-scientists who can conduct high caliber research in both basic and clinical sciences related to transfusion medicine and hematology and who can translate the rapidly growing knowledge in these fields to improvements in the care of patients with hematologic disorders and other conditions requiring blood product and stem cell therapy.
Relevance This training program will provide basic and clinical research training to physicians and PhD scientists focused on problems related to hematologic diseases and their treatment, including the science of transfusion and cellular therapy, including hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Advances in these fields are needed in order to improve the health of millions of people with inherited and acquired blood disorders.
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