Interdisciplinary Research Training Program in Environmental Health and Toxicology

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

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Abstract

This is a competing continuation application to renew the Research Training Program in Toxicology and Environmental Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Program, established in 2000, educates predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in reproductive/endocrine toxicology, neurotoxicology, nutritional toxicology, nanotoxicology, and cancer toxicology. The Program unites several long-standing areas of research excellence on the University of Illinois campus—environmental toxicology, reproductive biology, neuroscience, nutritional sciences, cancer biology, chemistry, and bioengineering. A total of 21 faculty members from 7 departments in 5 colleges will serve as preceptors for the Training Program, making this a truly interdisciplinary Program. Of these preceptors, 16 including the Program Director and Associate Director, have been affiliated with the Program for many years, providing long-term stability and continuity to the program. New preceptors were added to the Program to expand training opportunities in our 5 focus areas. These preceptors brought additional expertise in environmental epidemiology/heath, reproductive/endocrine toxicology, nutritional toxicology, and cancer toxicology. The preceptors are well funded, collaborate extensively, and have a wealth of experience mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Together, the preceptors currently have 59 federally funded research grants and 20 grants from other sources totaling over $15.5 million dollars/year in direct costs. Collaborations among labs working at the molecular, cellular, whole animal, and human health levels provide trainees with the unique opportunity to directly participate in translational research. Selection of the 4 predoctoral and 3 postdoctoral trainees supported by this Program is based on academic success, strength of the proposed research, relevance of the research to Program goals, and commitment to toxicology and environmental health. Trainees are appointed for 2 years. The Program offers a broad range of graduate level courses in toxicology. In addition to fulfilling departmental requirements, all predoctoral trainees take basic toxicology, systems toxicology, and at least one other advanced toxicology course. Postdoctoral trainees conduct independent research. All pre- and postdoctoral trainees attend weekly toxicology research seminars, a monthly toxicology journal club, and a course on research ethics in toxicology, coordinated by the Director and team taught by the preceptors. Trainees also attend career development workshops and take a grant writing class. They are required to present their research in the toxicology seminar series and strongly encouraged to attend national or international meetings to present their work. Trainees are expected to pursue toxicology- related research careers in academia, government, or industry.