We propose to continue a highly successful inter-departmental and inter-institutional Training Program in the Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration - a program devoted to the training of pre- and postdoctoral students for careers as independent research scientists in universities and health-related research laboratories. The trainers are all Harvard faculty with active research programs in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders related to aging. They are drawn from the Harvard Medical School and five affiliated research hospitals: Beth Israel-Deaconess Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and McLean Hospital. Bringing a wide range of experience and experimental approaches to the problems of age-related neurodegeneration, the Program faculty include molecular biologists, geneticists, cell biologists, neuropathologists, and biochemists. The pre-doctoral students are recruited into and drawn from the graduate students in the degree-granting Neuroscience Program of the Harvard Medical School. The postdoctoral students are chosen from among applicants nominated by individual faculty members of the Program. A total of six pre-doctoral trainees and eight postdoctoral trainees is proposed for a primary training faculty of 31 individuals experienced in basic and applied studies of age-related neurodegeneration. In all cases, the main criteria for successful candidates is dedication and interest in aging and neurodegeneration research and the highest level of academic achievement in their previous training. All students are required to participate in special neurodegeneration courses and seminars. The purpose of the Program is to create a framework within which the best training of future researchers devoted to problems in aging and neurodegeneration can take place and the already extensive interactions among the Program faculty can be continued.
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