# Vascular Surgery Research Training (VascTrain)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $511,571

## Abstract

This application is the second renewal application for the Vascular Surgery Research Training
(VascTrain) T32 Program. The VascTrain program was initially established in 2010 to enhance clinically
relevant basic and translational research in vascular surgery trainees and nonclinician trainees with a specific
interest in the study of vascular disease and treatment. The program supports 3 training positions each year (6
total positions) with two positions designated for vascular surgery residents and the third position for a trainee
from other surgical specialties or institutions or a nonMD post-doctoral fellow. The same number and
distribution of positions is being requested in this renewal application. The training faculty is composed of 27
trainers from a number of Departments including Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Bioengineering,
Chemical Engineering, the CTSI, Critical Care Medicine, Medicine, Cell Biology, Computational Biology,
Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. The mentors have been selected for
their expertise in their areas of investigation as well as for their skills in mentoring.
 The focus of the training is on cardiovascular disease and is designed to cover three major tracks:
Vascular Biology, Inflammation, and Drug Discovery; Bioengineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Vascular
Imaging; and Clinical and Translational Research related to comparative effectiveness, outcomes, vascular
disease epidemiology, and health services research. While these tracks appear to be distinct, training can be
customized to incorporate related elements of these areas. In the clinical research track, the trainees will
obtain a master’s degree of Clinical Research that can be customize to desired area of interest. Trainees in
the Vascular Biology or Bioengineering tracks are encouraged to take coursework as needed to supplement
the laboratory training. Careful selection of a team of mentors that will best support the development of each
trainee will be key to the success of the trainees.
 In the first two funding cycles, the VascTrain Program was very successful in recruiting a diverse group
of trainees to the program who have demonstrated excellent productivity and retention in academic careers
with a focus on vascular research. The program continues to evolve with the recruitment of new training
faculty who will further enhance the training experience. The training plan will undergo changes to better
develop translational skills, incorporate individually designed curriculum in Responsible Conduct in Research,
and focus on unique career development skills for the MD and PhD trainees. The training curriculum has been
enhanced in this renewal to include career coaching and wellness programs as well as bridging opportunities
to assist in the retention of trainees in research related career pathways.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9868348
- **Project number:** 2T32HL098036-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Edith Tzeng
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $511,571
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2010-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9868348

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9868348, Vascular Surgery Research Training (VascTrain) (2T32HL098036-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9868348. Licensed CC0.

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