# Training in Translational Research and Entrepreneurship in Pulmonary Vascular Biology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $207,136

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Biomedical investigators are experiencing a limitation in their collective ability to translate the remarkable basic
science discoveries of the current era into the clinical arena—a divide appropriately termed “the valley of
death.” In our first cycle of funding, we developed a novel training program in bench-to-bedside research
methodology designed to train the next generation of clinical and basic researchers in translational approaches
to pulmonary vascular biology and medicine. Our first eight trainees have had considerable success in
publications, grant funding, and securing academic positions; two of the trainees were underrepresented
minorities and six were women. In response to feedback from our current trainees and advisory boards, and in
an effort to address the increasing pressure from the NIH, political leaders, and the public to translate basic
discovery into therapeutic applications that positively change lives, we will extend the scope of our program in
this second cycle of funding to incorporate entrepreneurial training, including: 1) development of a novel joint
University of Pittsburgh (ranked #5 in NIH funding)-Carnegie Mellon University MBA Program (ranked #1 in
part-time programs) in Entrepreneurship; 2) elective rotations focused on commercialization of biotechnology;
and 3) an expanded faculty that includes translational scientist-entrepreneurs. We have created separate
milestone-driven Translational Tracks and Entrepreneurial Tracks, but retaining the option for trainees to
customize an Individual Development Plan to include components of either track. Trainees will be co-mentored
by faculty with complementary research approaches to provide comprehensive training, and projects focused
on patient-oriented bench-to-bedside (T1) research, with constant attention to trainee career development. Our
faculty include translationally-focused pulmonologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and PhDs spanning
basic science to entrepreneurship, with a history of scientific productivity in pulmonary vascular biology,
excellent funding support, successful mentoring, and expertise from drug discovery to commercialization of
biotechnology. Substantial institutional support and resources are available through endowments to the VMI
and a translational program project grant directed by Dr. Gladwin. The proposed training program, leadership,
advisory boards, training faculty, and infrastructure at the University of Pittsburgh are strongly positioned to
build on an already rich bench-to-bedside translational training program and create a generation of researchers
committed to spanning the “valley of death” between basic research discoveries, clinical application, and
commercial viability in pulmonary vascular disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136067
- **Project number:** 5T32HL110849-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark T Gladwin
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $207,136
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-04-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136067

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136067, Training in Translational Research and Entrepreneurship in Pulmonary Vascular Biology (5T32HL110849-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136067. Licensed CC0.

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