Integrated Training in Respiratory Research

NIH RePORTER · NIH · T32 · $745,984 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Abstract Our training program in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine provides comprehensive research training for individuals with a serious commitment to a career in lung biology and biomedical research, particularly as it interfaces with clinical pulmonary and critical care medicine. Lung diseases comprise a major source of excess morbidity and mortality worldwide, so our primary premise is that progress toward improved understanding of the pathobiology of these diseases is required to make progress toward treatment and prevention. The program has a long history (>30 years) of training numerous physician-scientists and scientists who have subscribed to this mission and have become leaders in academic pulmonary and critical care medicine. No changes are anticipated in the program leadership structure. We plan to maintain the previous scientific and training success, while adapting the next generation of researchers to the constantly changing state-of-the-art of basic and translational science. Recent changes have included expanded resources (recruitment of new faculty members, and increased laboratory space) and development of the Brigham Research Institute’s Lung Research Center. This has allowed us to broaden the scope of research questions related to lung biology and attack problems at the most basic and translational levels incorporating new core resources. We have continued to enhance our didactic program and further solidify program organization for oversight and mentoring of trainees. We identify trainees with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to a research career, help them locate a training environment to pursue a problem of interest and in which creative and rigorous thinking combined with state-of-the-art technology is being used to pursue the problem, and provide them with the tools and mindset to attack related problems in the future. Finally, we provide a prolonged period of support so that trainees are prepared to ultimately become productive independent investigators, and future leaders in academic pulmonary and critical care medicine. Of the 40 trainees who have completed the program over the last decade, 38 (95%) remain in academic medicine or research. Moreover, of the 40 trainees who have completed the program, our trainees have been awarded 46 grant awards (Table 8C) consisting of 24 NIH mentorship awards (18 K awards and 6 F32 NRSA), 1 DOD career development award, 3 independent R-awards, 1 Site PI for a UG3, 3 Parker B. Francis awards, and 13 foundation awards (Harvard Catalyst KL2, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, LAM Foundation, PCORI, American Thoracic Society, AstraZeneca, Peabody Foundation, and Stork Fund).. In addition, our T32 appointed trainees have published 324 papers with their training grant mentors as co-authors. The Program Director and Associate Program Directors of this training program will continue to work with the utmost enthusiasm an...

Key facts

NIH application ID
9855712
Project number
2T32HL007633-36
Recipient
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
Principal Investigator
Bruce D Levy
Activity code
T32
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$745,984
Award type
2
Project period
1985-07-01 → 2026-06-30