We seek continuing support for the third cycle (yrs 12-16) of this multi-disciplinary predoctoral and postdoctoral training program in lung biology and pathobiology. The trainingprogram was born out of our commitment to jroviding a training program that emphasizes comprehensive research in biology and pathobiology of lungs. Our pre- eminentgoal is to provide state-of-the-art research training for a select group of predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees who aspire to research careers. The underpinnings of the program result in a training program that extends beyond the reductionist approach by additionally emphasizing integrative and systems biology. The training program issubdivided into three general research areas that have been incorporated into the overall theme of the program. These areas are: (1) Vascular Biology and Lung Injury and Repair, (2) Cellular and Humoral Basis of Lung Injury, and (3) Cell Signaling and Regulationof Lung Function in Health and Disease. The training faculty consists of 36 members: 33 professors or associate tenuredprofessors and 3 tenure-track assistant professors. All training faculty members are independent investigators with strong research and training backgrounds and extramural funding who meet regularly at seminars and informal discussions and who are actively involved in collaborative research. The faculty members as a grouphave research strengths in the specific areas of cell and molecularbiology, cell physiology, immunology, pharmacology,and systems physiology. An inherent feature of the program is that it crosses disciplinary and departmentalboundaries (i.e., Pharmacology, Medicine,Physiology and Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, and Cell Biology). There is significant complementary overlap of faculty research interests as reflected in the collaborative research projects, funding on grants, and in the co-authored publications. The diversity andbreadth of the training faculty interests centered on lung biology and pathobiology affords the trainees flexibility in choosing preceptors and specific researchprojects. We are requesting support for 6 predoctoral candidates and 6 postdoctoral fellows on the basis of faculty strengths and a highly qualified applicant pool seeking training in this program. The intensive research training is supplemented by lectures, seminars, graduate courses, and visits by external consultants. The training program emphasizesthe interdisciplinary nature of contemporary research in areas relevant to lungbiology and pathobiology in an environment that fosters independent and creative thinking with the objective of training future research leaders.
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