This is the second renewal of Chemistry-Biology Interface (CBI) training grant T32 GM08804. We have designed an interdisciplinary program for training students (and faculty) at the interface of biological, medicinal, and traditional chemistr, called the Biological Chemistry Program (BCP). The BCP began in the fall of 2000 and provides a focused, cross-disciplinary education for students at the interface of biology and chemistry. The BCP is fully integrated into the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Colleges of Science and Medicine), and Pharmacology and Toxicology (Division of Drug Discovery and Development, College of Pharmacy). Students may obtain a degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Sciences while following the Biological Chemistry Training Program. Students undertake graduate coursework in Chemistry and Biology, perform research rotations in at least two research disciplines and participate in the weekly BCP Research Forum, where students and faculty present research results. Importantly, students may work with anyone in the program, regardless of departmental affiliation, allowing for true multidisciplinary research efforts. The training faculty includes 30 highly active research groups. Students remain in the BCP until graduation. There are 39 students currently following the training program, 23 of whom are training grant eligible. An additional 15 students (14 TGE) are expected to join the BCP next fall, out of an entering class of 35 students. Training grant slots are generally awarded for years 2 and 3 in the program, allowing training grant recipients great flexibility in assemblin a multidisciplinary research project. Fellowships are awarded in May to help first-year students assemble a broad- based mentoring team. For years 11-15, we request 6 training grant slots per year, allowing for ~20% of our training-grant-eligible students to be funded at any given time. Training at the Chemistry-Biology Interface is highly relevant for advances in public health. By blending Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and Biochemistry, our trainees are poised to make the next breakthroughs in drug discovery, disease detection, disease prevention, and the discovery of the underlying principles governing life and disease. Our 42 BCP graduates populate both academic science centers and disease-oriented private-sector companies.

Public Health Relevance

The Biological Chemistry Program trains PhD students at the interface of Chemistry and Biology, with particular emphases on drug discovery and the underlying principles governing healthy cells. Our students are poised to make the next great discoveries in disease detection and cures.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32GM008804-11A1
Application #
8665308
Study Section
(TWD)
Program Officer
Fabian, Miles
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arizona
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Tucson
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85721
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Foley, Christopher; Shaw, Arthur; Hulme, Christopher (2018) Aza-Riley Oxidation of Ugi-Azide and Ugi-3CR Products toward Vicinal Tricarbonyl Amides: Two-Step MCR-Oxidation Methodology Accessing Functionalized ?,?-Diketoamides and ?,?-Diketotetrazoles. Org Lett 20:1275-1278
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Tillotson, Joseph; Kedzior, Magdalena; Guimarães, Larissa et al. (2017) ATP-competitive, marine derived natural products that target the DEAD box helicase, eIF4A. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 27:4082-4085
Hu, Yanmei; Musharrafieh, Rami; Ma, Chunlong et al. (2017) An M2-V27A channel blocker demonstrates potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral activities against amantadine-sensitive and -resistant influenza A viruses. Antiviral Res 140:45-54
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