Training Program in Hypertension

NIH RePORTER · NIH · T32 · $454,576 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Hypertension Training Program provides comprehensive, curriculum- and mentor- based research training in hypertension at the molecular, cellular, whole animal, translational, patient-oriented and population-oriented levels by continuing the process that began nine years ago that integrated the resources of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) into a cohesive single, two site program. The training program is mature, being over 50 years old, with nearly 2/3’s of the preceptors serving longer than 5 years. Yet, also it is dynamic with 1/3 of preceptors being new to the program. Administratively, the program is guided by 3 committees: Steering Committee (responsible for overall program structure and function); Mentoring Committee (responsible for the mentoring relationships); and Individual Mentoring Team (functions like a thesis committee). The Program is divided into five components. (1) The introductory course is a broad survey-type activity consisting of lectures and seminars that provide all trainees with broad exposure to endocrine, renal and cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology; vascular biology; laboratory, patient- and population- oriented research; human subjects and animal care; and ethics. (2) Mentor-guided research project(s) begin with trainees (with Mentoring Committee guidance) choosing one of the training tracts - Patient-Oriented Research; Human Genetics; Population Science; or Bench Research - as well as a mentor(s). Trainees develop Individual Development Plans (with Individual Mentoring Team guidance). Trainees gain experience in diverse areas such as ethics of medical research, molecular biology, transgenic technology, signal transduction, receptor techniques, human and animal genetics, vascular biology, nutrition and detailed assessment of the factors regulating blood pressure at the cell, animal and human levels. (3) Trainees are encouraged to participate in a formal program (e.g. Program for Clinical and Translational Sciences, Clinical Effectiveness Program, master in medical science or public health or a PhD). (4) On-going activities in this interdisciplinary, translational research program include the availability of co-mentors with specialized complementary expertise, an exchange program between MSM and BWH, a variety of lectures and seminars and rounds in which the trainee gives a presentation. (5) The program includes individual career guidance and mentoring with formal evaluations of the trainees, mentors and the program. The program selects post-doctoral candidates based on: letters of recommendation, previous training experience, research interests, and the results of a personal interview. During the past 10 years, approximately 40% of entering trainees had an MD plus another degree or a PhD, with 10 MDs obtaining a second degree while in the program. Under-representative minorities comprised 20% of the trainees during the past 10 years. In the past 1...

Key facts

NIH application ID
9994102
Project number
5T32HL007609-34
Recipient
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
Principal Investigator
Gail Kurr Adler
Activity code
T32
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2020
Award amount
$454,576
Award type
5
Project period
1991-07-01 → 2023-07-31