Translational Research in Biomaterials

Boston University (Charles River Campus), Boston MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. The mission of the third renewal of Boston University's NIH training program, Translational Research in Biomaterials (TRB) is to train PhD students as interdisciplinary and translational research scientists and engineers. TRB trainees gain a fundamental and quantitative understanding of materials, surface science, biomaterial-tissue interactions, and molecular and cellular biology. Additionally, trainees participate in interdisciplinary research and experiences promoting scientific inquiry outside their traditional fields. New for this renewal are a junior faculty mentoring plan, integrated student governance, and enhanced data collection. Furthermore, we expand training opportunities to include BU’s NSF ERC in Cellular Metamaterials and partnerships with Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The cornerstones of the TRB program are the curriculum and the program elements that combine interdisciplinary research, quantitative science, engineering, and translational-based courses in clinical trials and business, with student-organized seminar club, dinners with clinicians, individual career plans, and professional development workshops. Our aim is to teach the unique skills and competencies that are essential to thrive in a multidisciplinary collaborative team striving to meet common goals in research, development, translation, and, ultimately, commercialization. Since our initial funding in 2009, 44 students have participated in the TRB program, producing 112 published papers (57 first-authored), 14 patent applications, 56 oral presentations, and 177 poster presentations at various meetings. TRB trainees have earned 19 individual competitive fellowships and 27 additional awards. Alumni currently hold positions such as Assistant Professor at Rice University, postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, and co-founders of biomedical startups. This renewal requests funding for six trainee stipends annually from NIH, each trainee supported for two years, aligned with faculty expertise, strong applicant interest (200+ eligible applicants), and substantial extramural funding. The program addresses critical challenges in translating biomaterial-based technologies into clinical applications, providing comprehensive and pioneering educational opportunities.