With the rapid accumulation of knowledge resulting from the development of new genetic and proteomic screens and methodologies, this is an exciting period in biomedical science, and there are now tools and techniques available to elucidate the underlying molecular etiologies of diseases and use this knowledge to provide new and more effective treatments or cures. The increasing incidence of kidney disease in the U.S. and worldwide represents a major challenge to our health systems. There is a growing urgency to train physician scientists and Ph.D. scientists who can increase our understanding of disease pathogenesis and develop, implement and assess new therapeutic modalities to combat renal disease. However, during the past decade, there has been a disturbing decrease in interest in Nephrology as a profession among potential trainees and especially a decreasing interest in committing to a career in kidney research. Therefore, it is crucial for research-rich nephrology programs to seek out, train and mentor the next generation of kidney research scientists. The goal of the Vanderbilt Nephrology Training Program is to provide promising M.D. and/or Ph.D. postdoctoral fellows with the knowledge and the tools to become the leaders in both basic and translational research efforts to generate new understanding in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases and to develop and implement new treatments and cures for our patients with kidney disease. The faculty who participate in the Vanderbilt Nephrology Training Program represent a group of talented and accomplished researchers with a broad range of scientific expertise and research interests. This group consists of 29 investigators whose primary appointment is in either Adult or Pediatric Nephrology and 15 other clinical and basic scientists who have ongoing interests in kidney disease or associated scientific questions. The training faculty are based in 8 departments: Medicine, Pediatrics, Pathology, Preventive Medicine, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology and Anesthesia. Research interests of the primary faculty include mechanisms of chronic glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury, acute kidney injury, cell- matrix and cell-cell interactions, renal development, epithelial cell biology, eicosanoid biology, epidemiology of progressive kidney disease, development of clinical biomarkers, health services research and clinical trials. Our training program is structured to provide physician/scientist (M.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) and selected basic scientist (Ph.D) trainees with a focused and productive research experience that will serve as the foundation for an independent investigative career directed toward understanding and treatment of renal disease. Project Summary/Abstract Page 6
The Vanderbilt Nephrology Training Program provides a structured and mentored training experience in basic and clinical and translational research for selected MD and PhD post-doctoral trainees. The goal of this program is to provide the training necessary to develop into an independent researcher in kidney-related research.
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