# Vascular Biology, Signaling and Therapeutics training program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2023 · $375,771

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This training grant application is focused on vascular biology, signaling, and therapeutic development (VBST),
and is designed for 4 pre-doctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees. Vascular researchers increasingly work in a
multi-disciplinary environment in which they seek diverse goals, from fundamental discovery research to
translation of new findings into experimental therapeutics. Consequently, training of the next generation of
vascular biologist requires pre- and postdocs to engage in highly defined research while also acquiring cross-
disciplinary collaborative research skills and an understanding of translational opportunities. Our mission is
to use a multi-disciplinary training approach in order to develop eminent vascular biologists with careers in
academia, research institutions, and the biopharmaceutical arena. The VBST Training Program is organized
around four thematic areas of research training: (1) Vascular Signaling, (2) Angiogenesis and Regeneration,
(3) Vascular Therapeutics, and (4) Neurovascular Biology. Our organizational strengths include depth of
vascular biology expertise and a highly-qualified cohort of scientists-in-training working in an exciting and
multi-disciplinary environment. Mentor expertise is drawn from 9 departments (Physiology and Biophysics,
Anatomy and Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Kinesiology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Medicine,
Bioengineering, Dentistry) and 4 Colleges (Medicine, Engineering, Applied Health Sciences, Dentistry) and
VBST is associated with 3 clinical and translational entities (Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCVR),
Center for Clinical Translation Science (CCTS) which includes the UICentre for Drug Discovery, and the
Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC). An educational program for trainees encompasses curricular
activities and collaborative training in drug development and clinical trials, with both pharma and university-
based centers. VBST training opportunities are available via partnerships with Eli Lilly, AbbVie, and
Genentech. To foster collaboration and extend the scope of research, each trainee has two mentors that are
drawn from a different thematic area, and all trainees have curricular activities related to cardiovascular
therapeutics. Upon entry into the program, trainees will formulate an Individual Development Plan (IDP) with
their mentors' guidance, and will elicit advice from Theme Leaders. Thus, trainees have ample opportunities
to advance to independence through support from experts in the field. We will enrich all the VBST trainees
through required participation in VBST Annual Retreat, annual NAVBO-VASCULATA coursework, survival
skills workshop, journal club, and career advice that underscore ethics and reproducibility in biomedical
science. Thus, the VBST will provide an exciting, multi-disciplinary, and rigorous program and will prepare
pre- and postdoctoral trainees to become vascular scientists of the highest caliber. These young scientists
will be able to condu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10646394
- **Project number:** 5T32HL144459-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Jan K. Kitajewski
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $375,771
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10646394

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10646394, Vascular Biology, Signaling and Therapeutics training program (5T32HL144459-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10646394. Licensed CC0.

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