Respiratory diseases remain a major cause of death and disability. Training in respiratory biology will prepare young investigators for careers directed at eliminating these major causes of morbidity and mortality. This program provides intensive research training for physicians or Ph.D.s to prepare for careers as independent investigators. Over the past funding period, we have utilized the strong combined research training expertise of the Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN and Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ. Dr. Andrew H. Limper, director of the Thoracic Research Unit at Mayo Rochester, will continue as program director, while Dr. James J. Lee, director of asthma research and the transgenic program at the Johnson Research Center at Mayo Scottsdale, will act as co-director. This training program arises as a natural extension of our integrated research and administrative structure. Well-developed and competitively funded research teams are present at both campuses. Faculty members hold academic appointments in the Departments of Medicine, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Physiology. Utilizing our satellite-based communication, major conferences are teleconferenced between campuses. In addition, faculty routinely travel between sites for educational, scientific, and administrative duties. Immediate communication occurs via our integrated paging and telephone systems, video links, and electronic mail. Dr. Limper and the Mayo Graduate School have considerable experience in supervising trainees as they train between Mayo sites. We propose 18 senior and 6 associate faculty members, with the research faculty being divided between the sites. Available research topics range from the biology of host defense and pulmonary infections, asthma and obstructive lung disease, extracellular matrix and lung fibrosis, the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis, transgenic animal models of disease, lung inflammation, cellular biomechanics, and protease and lipid biochemistry. We propose outstanding research opportunities for four trainee positions per year. Qualified candidates with M.D., Ph.D., or M.D., Ph.D. backgrounds are considered. We have already had significant success in the recruitment of under-represented minorities and will continue these efforts. Candidate are committed to a minimum of two, but preferably three or more years of full time research. A wide range of didactic courses is available to complement the intensive laboratory experience.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32HL007897-06
Application #
6591832
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-M (F1))
Program Officer
Colombini-Hatch, Sandra
Project Start
1998-07-01
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2004-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$249,156
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Villegas, Leah R; Kottom, Theodore J; Limper, Andrew H (2012) Chitinases in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Med Microbiol Immunol 201:337-48
Villegas, Leah R; Kottom, Theodore J; Limper, Andrew H (2010) Characterization of PCEng2, a {beta}-1,3-endoglucanase homolog in Pneumocystis carinii with activity in cell wall regulation. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 43:192-200
Krajicek, Bryan J; Kottom, Theodore J; Villegas, Leah et al. (2010) Characterization of the PcCdc42 small G protein from Pneumocystis carinii, which interacts with the PcSte20 life cycle regulatory kinase. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 298:L252-60
Kennedy, Cassie C; Kottom, Theodore J; Limper, Andrew H (2009) Characterization of a novel ADAM protease expressed by Pneumocystis carinii. Infect Immun 77:3328-36
Finkielman, J D; Merkel, P A; Schroeder, D et al. (2009) Glycosylation of proteinase 3 (PR3) is not required for its reactivity with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Wegener's granulomatosis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 27:S45-52
Peikert, Tobias; Finkielman, Javier D; Hummel, Amber M et al. (2008) Functional characterization of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in patients with cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions. Arthritis Rheum 58:1546-51
Kottom, Theodore J; Kennedy, Cassie C; Limper, Andrew H (2008) Pneumocystis PCINT1, a molecule with integrin-like features that mediates organism adhesion to fibronectin. Mol Microbiol 67:747-61
Finkielman, Javier D; Lee, Augustine S; Hummel, Amber M et al. (2007) ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener's granulomatosis. Am J Med 120:643.e9-14
Finkielman, Javier D; Merkel, Peter A; Schroeder, Darrell et al. (2007) Antiproteinase 3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and disease activity in Wegener granulomatosis. Ann Intern Med 147:611-9
Lee, A S; Finkielman, J D; Peikert, T et al. (2006) Agreement of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody measurements obtained from serum and plasma. Clin Exp Immunol 146:15-20

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