Training Program in the Biology of Aging and Lung Diseases

The lung is a major determinant of human health and respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. The elderly population is one of the fastest-growing demographics in the US and worldwide. Our innovative T32 program in Biology of Aging and Pulmonary Diseases addresses a critical need to train biomedical researchers, physician scientists and future leaders in the links between aging and lung disease. We propose a multidisciplinary training program that will integrate basic mechanistic investigation of pulmonary disease and the biology of aging, with translational and clinical investigation of acute and chronic lung disease. The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (PCCS) at The Ohio State University has been in a growth phase with the influx of investigators with well-recognized research programs and established track records of training. This new training program will be co-directed by Ana L Mora, MD, the Associate Director of research in the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute and Rama Mallampalli, MD, the Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine (DOIM). An Executive Committee comprised of Jeffrey Horowitz, MD, Division Director of PCCS, and Mauricio Rojas, MD, Associate Vice-Chair of Research in the DOIM will support Drs. Mora and Mallampalli in the administration of the training program. Five total positions will be available for MD and PhD scientists, with a 3-year structured, milestone-driven curriculum based primarily in laboratory research and complemented with research and career development retreats, translational core competencies, seminars, an academic survival skill conference series, workshops, and grant writing workshops. Our training plan is structured around individualized development plans that emphasize quantifiable outcomes including publications, career development awards, didactic courses and transition to research and academic careers. A dual mentorship training design will give trainees essential cross-disciplinary scientific and professional guidance in 6 areas: 1) Aging, Senescence and Metabolism, 2) Immunity and Host Defense, 3) Injury and Repair, 4) Environmental Exposures, 5) Therapeutics and Transplant, and 6) Biomedical Informatics. OSU’s environment for pulmonary training is unparalleled, with faculty in the Department of Internal Medicine-Division of Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Department of Surgery, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular Genetics, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute engaged in NHLBI-funded research across basic, translational, and clinical disciplines. This faculty, infrastructure, leadership, trainee pool, and unique scientific focus will address a critical pulmonary field and build a training program with emphasis in diversity. OSU is deeply committed to training underrepresented racial and ethnic groups for academic careers as is shown recruiting female and underrepresented trainees, staff and faculty.