Training Program in Regenerative Medicine

About This Grant

This application for a Stanford University Interdisciplinary T32 Program in Regenerative Medicine will identify, through a call-for-applications, promising second-year PhD students enrolled in one of 14 Stanford Biosciences graduate training programs for funding to pursue research in mechanisms and clinical application of stem cell biology in the application of regenerative medicine approaches to human disease. Our program will support trainees whose proposed research projects align with our mission to educate future leaders in regenerative medicine. The biology of stem cells will be a central focus area and the principles that underlie regenerative medicine, such as human biology, disease mechanisms, and translation of basic science to medical advances will figure prominently in selection of participants for our training program. An established graduate program in stem cell biology will provide some of the framework for our T32 program, while Stanford’s translational Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM) will provide value-added components of translationally-oriented laboratory research experiences, training in regulatory processes for new drugs and clinical advances, and seminars and workshops that specifically target the translation of laboratory-based discoveries to clinical applications. We will synergize with other Stanford T32s to provide elective courses for our trainees desiring more exposure to specialized topics. Our Objectives are 1: to identify the rising second-year students interested in clinical application of regenerative medicine and fund those with the highest likelihood of success in graduate school for one year with reappointment to a second year based on progress, 2: to maintain a training program that includes a rigorous basis in ethics, the reproducibility of methods, data collection, and publication in peer-reviewed journals and that provides comprehensive understanding of the biomedical enterprise, from basic discovery to the development and application of therapies, and 3: to provide individualized opportunities for our students to explore potential careers as an essential aspect of the training program. Program elements include didactic training in key areas of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology followed by research training in cutting-edge laboratories and exposure to clinical translation through CDCM-sponsored programs. Central to our plan for career development is a required internship, designed by the students, to help facilitate their successful transition into a biomedical career. Supporting the strength of our training and mentoring abilities, our past trainees have had a very high retention rate, strong publication records, and a history of successful transition to careers in academics, industry, and finance. We propose to fund 4 trainees per year for a total of 8 training slots and expect trainee outcomes to include equal numbers of academic and industry job placements. Our proposed T32 program will maintain the current high level of PhD completion rates and short time-to-degree, and expand training of PhD scientists in this novel program through focus on mechanisms of regenerative medicine and the translation of discovery science to the clinic.