Vascular Surgery Research Training (VascTrain)

University Of Pittsburgh At Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This application is the third renewal application for the Vascular Surgery Research Training (VascTrain) T32 Program. The VascTrain T32 program was established in 2010 to enhance clinically relevant basic, translational, and clinical research in vascular surgery trainees and nonclinician trainees with a specific interest in the study of vascular disease and its treatment. The program supports 3 training positions each year (6 total positions) with 2 positions designated for vascular surgery residents and the third position for a trainee from general surgery or a nonMD post-doctoral fellow. The same number and distribution of positions are being requested in the current application. The training faculty is composed of 23 trainers from a number of Departments including Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, the CTSI, Critical Care Medicine, Medicine, and Anesthesia. The mentors have been selected for their expertise in their areas of investigation as well as for their skills in research and career mentoring. The focus of the training remains on vascular disease and covers three major tracks: Vascular Biology, Inflammation, and Drug Discovery; Bioengineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Vascular Imaging; and Clinical Research related to comparative effectiveness, epidemiology, health services, clinical trials, and implementation research. While these tracks appear to be distinct, training can be customized to incorporate related elements of these areas. In the clinical research track, the trainees will obtain a master’s degree of Clinical Research that is customizable to desired area of interest. Trainees in the Vascular Biology or Bioengineering tracks are encouraged to take coursework as needed to supplement the laboratory training. Careful selection of a team of mentors that will best support the development of each trainee will be key to the success of the trainees. In the first three funding cycles, the VascTrain Program was very successful in recruiting a diverse group of trainees to the program who have demonstrated excellent productivity and retention in academic careers with a focus on vascular research. While a number of training faculty have been involved in this program from inception, we have recruited new faculty to bring additional expertise and evolve areas of training to meet the changes in vascular research. New initiatives in this funding cycle include the addition of leadership training focused on team building as well as career coaching to help trainees better evaluate career goals and pathways to those goals. The training plan will undergo changes to better develop translational skills, incorporate individually designed curriculum in Responsible Conduct in Research, and focus on unique career development skills for the MD and PhD trainees. The training curriculum has also been enhanced to include diversity training and wellness programs as well as bridging opportunities to assist in the retention of trainees in research related career pathways.