Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan - US grants

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): [unreadable] The College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University (CVM-MSU) is requesting a five-year renewal of the currently funded one-year-long intensive research training program for exceptional veterinary students in the area of hypothesis-based biomedical research. This request specifically addresses the national need for more veterinarians to be trained in basic biomedical research in the areas of comparative medicine and pathology. Although the current training grant is only in the second year of three years of funding, early indicators of success include the synergy demonstrated between the current summer research program (funded by NIH and Merck-Merial) and the high level (100%) participation of the trainees in combined D.V.M./M.S. or D.V.M.-Ph.D. graduate programs. Only the best researcher-trainers have been selected from the CVM and other participating colleges at MSU, and they have been grouped into five areas of research excellence to provide the best training environment: 1) hypertension; 2) toxicology; 3) food safety and emerging infectious diseases; 4) comparative medicine and molecular genetics; and 5) mechanisms of non-infectious respiratory disease. Required coursework includes statistics and a seminar course in comparative medicine and integrative biology. Additional coursework is under the direction of the graduate advisory committee. Training is provided in scientific integrity and the responsible conduct of research. Efforts will be made to recruit veterinary students from other colleges of veterinary medicine and a plan is in place to ensure that minority students have access to this research training program. A goal for all students in the program is to present an abstract of their research at a national or international scientific meeting, publish the results of their research in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and present their research results at the annual CVM Phi Zeta Research Day. In addition, an optional 4-8-week summer research training experience will be offered at the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which will provide selected students with the opportunity for an off-campus research experience at a world-class basic science laboratory addressing human health issues. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this Professional Student Short-Term Research Training Application is to provide veterinary students who have completed their first or second year with the opportunity to explore research in comparative medicine as a potential career. Students will be engaged in hypothesis-driven discovery and problem-solving research in a high-quality laboratory setting for 12 weeks during the summer. Only the best researchers/mentors from the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at MSU have been included as trainees in the proposed research-training program. Participating faculty have been grouped into five areas of research excellence: 1) toxicology, 2) food safety and emerging infectious diseases, 3) comparative molecular genetics, 4) neuroscience, and 5) mechanisms of non-infectious pulmonary disease. In addition, an orientation, weekly seminar series, and field trips have been designed to broaden the research experience, as well as to provide students with an understanding of current research issues. The program is designed to successfully recruit veterinary students from other U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine and to ensure that minority students have access to this research experience. All students participating in the program are required to present their research results at the annual CVM Phi Zeta Research Day.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this Professional Student Short-Term Research Training Grant is to provide veterinary students who have completed their first or second year with the opportunity to explore research in comparative medicine as a potential career: Students will be engaged in hypothesis-driven discovery and problem-solving research in a high-quality laboratory setting for 12 weeks during the summer. Only the best researchers/mentors from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University have been included as trainees in the proposed research training program. Participating faculty have been grouped into 5 areas of research excellence: 1) Comparative Microbial Pathogenesis and Infectious diseases, 2) Epidemiology and Public Health, 3) Comparative Molecular Genetics 4) Comparative Pathobiology, 5) Comparative Toxicology. In addition, an orientation, weekly seminar series, and field trips have been designed to broaden the research experience, as well as to provide students with an understanding of current research issues and career paths in which they can make a contribution to improve public health. Training in responsible conduct of research is an integral part of the program. Recruitment efforts planned are directed not only to DVM students in our college, but to veterinary students from other U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine and are designed to ensure that minority students have access to this research experience. All students participating in the program are required to present their research results at the annual College of Veterinary Medicine Phi Zeta Research Day, and to publish them with their mentors as appropriate. Increasing our human capital in veterinary scientists is critical to the protection of public health and advancement of science that benefits animals and humans, both as individuals and as populations. Summer research experiences provide a critical step into the research enterprise to the veterinary students early in their training and foster interest and develop aptitude for further training in the biomedical sciences. Control and optimal response to diseases such as west-Nile virus and avian influenza that affect both human and animal populations depend on this. In addition, comparative studies in animal models are critical to the understanding of disease processes and of new therapies for human diseases.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Health disparities continue to exist in our society. While the problem is multi-faceted and multi-factorial, lack of representation of the underserved groups in the health force is a critical deficiency, and one that can be addressed by research education programs. Experiential learning by active engagement in research is the best way to nurture the next generation of scientists and health care professionals. Therefore, this proposal focuses on recruitment and comprehensive mentored research education training of individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in the framework of a summer research program on the campus of Michigan State University. Six undergraduate and two graduate-professional students will be recruited to participate in the program. The students will receive close mentoring by faculty and participate in research focused on mechanisms of hypertension or airway biology and diseases. These research areas are prime examples where health disparities exist across various groups underrepresented in the biomedical enterprise. In addition, these diseases are a major concern both locally in Michigan and across the nation. Training faculty have been carefully selected and have been chosen on their mentoring record and ability to serve as excellent role models for the students. A comprehensive research education program has been designed to include seminars on specific research topics, as well as on health disparities in general. Workshops have been included to assist with the preparation of the students for pursuing further graduate and medical education. The students will have multiple opportunities to present their work and increase their communication skills. A supportive and intensive training environment will provide the students an excellent foundation to build on as they consider their career choices. The students will be tracked, and the program will be rigorously evaluated and modified as necessary to improve outcome. The overall goal of the program is to increase the number of qualified individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups entering research careers in areas relevant to cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Health disparities are population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health and are a significant concern in our society. Lack of representation of underserved groups in the health force has been identified as a critical gap by both government and health professionals as inclusive research teams have broader perspectives in setting research agendas, recruiting subjects into clinical research studies, and working more effectively to deliver health care and reduce health disparities. This proposal seeks to address this gap by recruiting, training, and actively engaging underrepresented groups in experiential learning in fields of significant public health concern: hypertension and lung disease. (End of Abstract)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The need to establish a highly-qualified and diverse research work force in the biomedical and clinical sciences is well-recognized nationally. In doing so we must enlist the most talented individuals in the research and health care enterprise. The objective of the proposed training program is to contribute to the research workforce by providing research training to graduate veterinarians. The rationale for targeting veterinarians for research training is that they possess a uniquely-informed perspective from which to advance the various fields of biomedical research. This stems from the comparative approach that is used in veterinary medical education, as well as in the practice of veterinary medicine. Furthermore, the educational depth and diversity acquired through the veterinary education that our trainees will have upon entering our research training program provides a strong science and medical knowledge base upon which to build. The proposed research training program will be at the postdoctoral level, as trainees will hold a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM or equivalent) degree. Funds are requested for 3 trainees and trainees are expected to be in the program for 3 years. The training will take place in the form of PhD level graduate education in the Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology graduate program, in which trainees will conduct original research that will form the basis of a PhD dissertation. Traditional graduate education will be augmented with specific activities that will bolster trainees' readiness for research careers. Trainees will have the option of selecting as mentors (major advisors) a wide array of faculty trainers with nationally recognized expertise in respiratory diseases, cancer, neuroscience, inflammation, genetics, and enteric and infectious diseases.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Recognizing the need for the diverse skills needed in our biomedical enterprise, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, MSU-CVM, has invested in the training of the next generation of veterinarians in research experiences that will make them valuable contributors to basic, clinical and translational research. The yearlong predoctoral research program has been one of these successful efforts. The goal of the current training grant application is to continue to capture the enthusiasm and imagination of students in the middle of their DVM training and prime their appreciation and capacity for basic research before they recommence their clinical training. Allowing them to gain appreciation of basic research will increase their capacity for posing and answering critical questions to improve individual and public health, and increase their ability to pursue careers in research. We are seeking continued support for this program, now in its eight year of funding. Previous trainees have participated in combined DVM-MS or DVM-PhD programs and/or continued onto further clinical training. They have presented original research data in meetings and peer-reviewed publications. We propose to continue this program for highly qualified veterinary scholars and provide them special research training in the context of the Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology MS Program, which will provide a nurturing and supportive environment. Our active engagement in summer research programs, both in our college and nationally, will enable us to continue to recruit outstanding students into this program. Special efforts will be made to recruit and nurture an inclusive pool of young scientist. The trainees will receive mentoring from faculty who are outstanding scientist dedicated to training the next generation of scientists. Training in the responsible conduct of research and building project management skills will be additional important components of the program. The training program will enhance our ability to meet the needs for biomedical researchers and improve human health.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application proposes to continue a series of annual conferences to promote biomedical research careers by an inclusive set of veterinarians, focusing on the themes of comparative and translational medicine, and zoonotic diseases and global health. The proposed conferences will build on the success of conferences carried out since 2000, initially as Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholar Symposia, and more recently as NIH-Merial Veterinary Scholar Symposia. These conferences will provide national forums for veterinary students and post- graduate veterinarians engaged in biomedical research. Veterinary scientists-in-training will have an opportunity present their research alongside peers, and attend state-of-the- art biomedical research seminars presented by renowned scientists. In addition, these conferences will cultivate connections among veterinary students, fellows, faculty, government, and industrial scientists performing comparative biomedical research. The meetings will provide formal and informal opportunities for networking. Furthermore, these conferences will engage veterinary students, fellows, academic faculty, nationally recognized research scientists, government scientists and pharmaceutical industry scientists in a constructive dialogue about future directions for veterinary, comparative medicine and translational research. Importantly, these conferences will invite, sponsor and inspire undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in research to pursue veterinary and graduate training. There is a dearth of students from minority backgrounds that are underrepresented in veterinary and comparative medicine. Participation of such students in these conferences while they are undergraduates will increase awareness of career options in veterinary research, providing one of the most effective tools to increase numbers of underrepresented students in the profession. These conferences will provide opportunities for connections between veterinary students performing research, and directors of advanced training programs. There continues to be a shortage of highly qualified veterinary graduates applying for positions in postdoctoral research programs for veterinarian-scientists. This conference will bring together several hundred veterinary students who have an interest in research with directors of training programs designed for post-graduate research training. Formal presentation as well as one-on-one interactions will assist recruitment efforts of training programs, and will promote our long-term objective of facilitating contributions from veterinarian-scientist for advances in treatment of human diseases and public health.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this professional student short-term research training grant is to provide veterinary students who have completed their first or second year with the opportunity to carry out mentored biomedical research enriched by seminars and events that are designed to inspire them for careers combining their medical training and research. Students will be engaged in hypothesis-driven discovery and problem-solving research in a high- quality laboratory setting for 12 weeks during the summer. Only the most outstanding researchers and mentors from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University have been included as trainees in the proposed research training program. Participating faculty have been grouped into 5 areas of research excellence: 1) Comparative Microbial Pathogenesis and Infectious diseases, 2) Epidemiology and Public Health, 3) Comparative Molecular Genetics 4) Comparative Pathobiology, 5) Comparative Toxicology. In addition, an orientation session, weekly seminar series, and special events have been designed to broaden the research experience, as well as to provide students with an understanding of current research issues and career paths in which they can make a contribution to improve public health. Training in responsible conduct of research is an integral part of the program and is carried out in special training sessions, seminars, book clubs and reflective essays. Recruitment efforts planned are directed not only to DVM students in our college, but to veterinary students from other U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine and are designed to ensure that minority students have access to this research experience. All students participating in the program are required to present their research results at the annual College of Veterinary Medicine Phi Zeta Research Day, and encouraged to present at national meetings and to publish them with their mentors as appropriate. Increasing our human capital in veterinary scientists is critical to the protection of public health and advancement of science that benefits animals and humans, both as individuals and as populations. Summer research experiences provide a critical step into the research enterprise to the veterinary students early in their training and foster interest and develop aptitude for further training in the biomedical sciences. Control and optimal response to diseases such as west-nile virus and avian influenza that affect both human and animal populations depend on this human capital. In addition, comparative studies in animal models are critical to the understanding of disease processes and of new therapies for human diseases.

? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health care are termed health disparities and they are a significant concern in our society. Lack of representation of the underserved groups-which includes minorities, financially disadvantaged, and disabled individuals-in the biomedical research and healthcare workforce has been identified as a critical factor underlying health disparities. Indeed, disparities in the demographics of individuals entering careers in biomedical research are well documented. Biomedical knowledge and healthcare will undoubtedly benefit from broader inclusion of underrepresented individuals engaged in biomedical research as inclusive research teams have broader perspectives in setting research agendas, can more effectively recruit diverse subjects into clinical research studies, and work more effectively to deliver health care and reduce health disparities. Experiential learning by active engagement in research is an effective way to nurture the next generation of scientists and health care professionals. Thus, this proposal is designed to recruit and comprehensively immerse college students from underrepresented groups in summer research experiences on the campus of Michigan State University. These research experiences will be focused on three major areas: hypertension, airway disease and blood cells and components in tissue pathology. The objective of the proposed education research program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who pursue biomedical research-related educational goals and career paths relevant to the mission areas of the NHLBI. The strategy we propose to meet this objective involves 1) providing program participants an immersive research experience for the purpose of exposing them to the various aspects of a research career, 2) facilitating the development of networks of mentors and peers for the purpose of creating a community that is supportive of the participants' research-related interests, and 3) fostering the participants' successes so as to give them the confidence needed to pursue a research-related career. Implementation of these strategies will accomplish the specific aims (SA) to: (SA1) expose college students to high quality research in the areas of heart, lung and blood diseases; (SA2) provide comprehensive exposure to the various aspects of biomedical research through an organized program of activities; (SA3) bolster the trainees' understanding of the critical concepts of responsible conduct of research; (SA4) recruit trainees from underrepresented backgrounds into these research experiences; and (SA5) determine the effectiveness of our programming in enhancing diversity in health-related biomedical research. (End of Abstract)

Project Summary: A series of five conferences are proposed that will address the national need for inclusive basic, translational, and clinical scientists by providing an opportunity for young veterinary scholars to meet, interact, exchange information, and gain an understanding of the many ways through which they can become significant contributors to our biomedical enterprise. These conferences will continue the excellent trajectory set forth by previous meetings. The NIH-Merial Veterinary Scholar Symposium has become the capstone event for the veterinary scholars engaged in summer research programs across the nation, showcasing the students' work through poster sessions, enabling interactions with peers and trainees a few steps ahead of them, as well as with outstanding scientists from a variety of backgrounds who make presentations on areas of broad significance to both animal and human health, and in health disparities. Advanced clinical and basic science training opportunities are showcased, with directors of programs in attendance. Inclusiveness is a high priority and is addressed in a number of ways, including enabling underrepresented DVM students as well as undergraduates aspiring to veterinary/ human medical carriers in pipeline research programs to attend the Symposium, featuring aspirational peers and role models. In addition to formal opportunities, such as the poster sessions and discussion during the scientific sessions, lunch hours and evening social programs are designed to enable networking and interactions among all. Combined degree students are also invited to the Symposium, where they participate in all sessions, present posters and have networking opportunities. The Symposium also serves as an opportunity for training program directors to share best practices, discuss and address key issues in clinician scientist training in depth in a special colloquium. The annual meeting of the directors of NIH T-32 and T35 training programs with NIH program officers is also scheduled during the Symposium. All events are all planned in well-equipped facilities, with consideration of accessibility and other special needs such as those of the hearing impaired, and child-care. The conference sites span the nation and are hosted by outstanding scientists committed to training the next generation of translational and clinical scientists.