# Pre-doctoral Training Program in Molecular Therapeutics

> **NIH NIH T32** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $312,217

## Abstract

The global objective of the NIH-funded Molecular Therapeutics Training Program (MTTP) is to provide highly
qualified predoctoral students with the knowledge base and research skills to begin independent investigative
and teaching careers in the pharmacological sciences. Rapid advances in biotechnology coupled to the ever-
expanding development of new and repurposed therapeutics has created a growing need for highly qualified
scientists with core training in the principles and practice of pharmacology. The MTTP has had sustained
excellent outcomes and an excess of excellent training grant eligible predoctoral students. Therefore, support is
requested for an expansion of the program from four to six predoctoral positions for all years. The goal of the
program is to develop professional pharmacologists with the maturity to address new research questions through
creativity and collaboration and to communicate their findings to a wide audience documented by publications in
premier scientific journals and effective communication with the lay public. We expect our graduates to be fully
capable of contributing to the design and evaluation of therapeutic strategies in a range of careers. The MTTP
provides a uniform conceptual framework and research environment through which students obtain the PhD
degree in Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Designed with a three-tiered
progression, the MTTP first establishes a didactic foundation in cell and molecular biology coupled with research
rotations to facilitate mentor selection. Secondly, a foundation in molecular and physiological pharmacology is
achieved via an intensive two-part core course which emphasizes both quantitative analysis and disease-
focused study of drugs. Thirdly, students specialize via advanced courses and thesis research. In addition, rigor
and reproducibility is a longitudinal component of the curriculum, which emphasizes unbiased experimental
approaches that take into account group size, blinded experiments, and sex as a biological variable. These steps
ensure that the importance of rigor and reproducibility is at the forefront from year 1 through preparation and
defense of the thesis. The thirty-eight MTTP faculty preceptors represent six major research centers in
Cleveland: CWRU, University Hospitals, the CWRU Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Cleveland Clinic, the
Cleveland VA Medical Center, and MetroHealth Medical Center. This rich diversity of research and training
settings is accomplished while maintaining a united focus on pharmacology. The interdisciplinary design fosters
productive interactions among students and faculty in basic and clinical departments around the common theme
of therapeutics. Collectively the MTTP trainers are a highly interactive group of experienced, well-funded
investigators, and there are many examples of collaborative scientific interactions among the program faculty.
The environment at CWRU is excellent for research and training PhD s...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10404590
- **Project number:** 5T32GM008803-19
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN J MIEYAL
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $312,217
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2001-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10404590

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10404590, Pre-doctoral Training Program in Molecular Therapeutics (5T32GM008803-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10404590. Licensed CC0.

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