Cincinnati Training Program in Pediatric Rheumatology

Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr, Cincinnati OH

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This T32 application for the Research Training Program (RTP) for Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases seeks to equip pediatric rheumatology fellows with the investigative skills necessary to succeed in meaningful scientific careers in academic pediatric rheumatology. The program is based in a large Division of Pediatric Rheumatology (PR) with two P30 center grants and several NIH-funded investigators. The Pediatric Rheumatology Division, including its related clinic, is part of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and The Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation (CCRF), as well as part of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (UCCOM) with its clinical and biomedical science departments. The Pediatric Rheumatology divisional research program draws strength from uniquely integrated teams of clinical, translational, and basic researchers involved in active ongoing collaborations with members of Divisions of Immunobiology, Human Genetics, Hematology/Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, Nephrology, Radiology, Psychology and Bioinformatics. The primary faculty advisors have been selected from 12 specialties divisions based on the ongoing collaboration with Rheumatology faculty, high research productivity and strong record of training of young scientists. In parallel to the two focus areas of divisional research, this T32 RTP has been offering two distinct research career pathways or training tracks. Trainees deciding to pursue laboratory based basic and translational research careers follow the Laboratory Research Track. Although most trainees in this track have been MD or MD/PhD, it also attracts PhD scholars who would like to apply their knowledge to address questions relevant to PR. The focus areas of the training in this track include basic disease biology and functional genomics in PRDs. Trainees deciding to pursue clinical research careers follow the Clinical Science Track. This track encompasses didactic and hands- on training in study design, biostatistics, research methods, clinical epidemiology, and outcome measure development. The program is well supported by core facilities as well as by academic courses, including a mandatory course in medical ethics and responsible conduct of research. Other available courses include computational system biology, immunobiology, molecular genetics, epidemiology, and biostatistics. The interdepartmental Immunobiology Graduate Program (MS and PhD) that is centered at CCHMC complements existing programs in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Education in the UCCOM. It is believed that this RTP provides unique resources and will continue to enlarge the pool of individuals with a career interest in biomedical science as it relates to pediatric rheumatology, a pool that is far too small to meet the requirements of the next decades as molecular medicine is increasingly applied in the clinic.