Forsyth Postdoctoral Training In Oral Health Research
Daniel James Smith, Associate Professor
Forsyth Institute
Grant 5T32DE007327-09 from National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research IRG: ZDE1
Abstract: This proposal is a competing continuation of Forsyth´s currently funded Kirschstein-NRSA T32 training award entitled "Postdoctoral Training Program in Oral Health Research". This program is targeted to dentists and PhDs who desire a postdoctoral experience in basic, clinical or patient-oriented oral health research. Specific training opportunities are available in Craniofacial Development/Biomineralization, Immunobiology, Oral Microbial-Host Interactions, and Clinical Investigation. Linkage of projects between focus areas, especially between Clinical Investigation and other focus areas will be encouraged. Mentors have outstanding records of published research consistent with the NIDR mission, are well-supported by NIH (PI or Co-l on average of 3.4 funded research grants) and have appreciable experience in postdoctoral education. Extensive collaborative and multidisciplinary interactions are characteristic of mentors´ research. These multidisciplinary/collaborative research efforts of mentors will provide trainees with examples of such interactions, and should also serve as a springboard for the trainee to initiate similar collaborative research interactions. Enhancements to the postdoctoral research experience will include semester-long courses in clinical research design, oral health targeted courses in Immunology, Infectious Disease, and Developmental Biology, and a newly developed course in Scientific Integrity developed for the current T32 program (required). Training in research use of the Web and bioinformatic tools is also offered, together with formal workshops and informal guidance in grantsmanship and Career Development. Trainees will take active roles in the Forsyth Seminar Series, Oral Biology colloquia, departmental journal clubs, and a postdoctoral research group. Leadership awareness and training will be facilitated by postdoctoral trainee mentoring of Boston high school and Harvard dental students in summer research projects. Several strategies will be used to recruit trainees including candidates from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups who will be specifically encouraged. Our goal is to provide training experiences that will position trainees to be principal investigators who can successfully compete for research funds, who effectively communicate their ideas both orally and in written form, who recognize the value of collaborative and multidisciplinary research, and who uphold the highest standards in scientific integrity
Project start date: 2001-07-01
Project end date: 2011-06-30
Sponsored Links Excellgen http://Excellgen.com
Grants awarded to Daniel James Smith
THE FORSYTH CORE CENTER FOR DISCOVERY AT THE HOST-BIOFILM INTERFACE
Daniel James Smith, Senior Member Of The Staff
Forsyth Institute, 140 The Fenway, Boston, Ma 02115
Grant 1P30DE020751-01 from National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research
Abstract: The Forsyth Institute´s second century will see exciting new changes in location, research opportunities and resource availability. In 2010, Forsyth, the world leader in oral and craniofacial research will relocate to Cambridge, MA. The uncommitted growth space at the new site is being targeted for a new Center for Discovery at the Host-Biofilm Interface (CHBI). The CHBI will take advantage of existing teams of Forsyth scientists already exploring immune and microbial characteristics and interactions by focusing their expertise at the nexus of host and biofilm. The CHBI will also provide the base for recruiting 2 newly trained faculty, under the P30 mechanism, who will bring new expertise, perspectives, and technical skills to the exploration of the host-biofilm interface. We will concentrate our recruitment on individuals trained in emerging themes of 1) epithelial-microbial interactions; 2) ontogeny of microbial colonization, using germfree mouse models; 3) establishment and maintenance of commensalism; and 4) cross-talk between innate and adaptive immune responses. New CHBI faculty will be given tenure-track Assistant Member of Staff appointments, will have essentially 100% protected research time, and will be provided with start-up funds (five total years of salary for investigator and technician, supplies, equipment, travel and other research needs). P30-supported pilot grants will focus on collaborative and multi-disciplinary CHBI projects involving and/or led by new CHBI faculty. A strong emphasis will be placed on new investigator career development through mentoring by senior staff and the CHBI Steering Committee, participation in workshops, and by promoting interinstitutional collaborations through the Harvard CTSC Catalyst network, including Catalyst´s pilot grant program. Recognizing the need for sustained support during the early career phase, Forsyth will provide salary and technical support for an additional 3 years. Forsyth will also underwrite costs for administrative support, recruitment, and space renovation. Our goals are to expand the scientific reach and impact of the CHBI by focused investigation at the host-biofilm interface, in part, by including the perspectives of new faculty, as well as by creating an environment for their maturation into fully independent research careers. Humans are colonized by 10 times more bacteria than there are cells in our bodies. We live in harmony with most of these microbes; however, some of these bacteria may become pathogenic. The goal of this effort is to recruit and develop the careers of two new investigators to explore from new perspectives how humans and our bacterial passengers normally coexist and what changes when disease occurs
Keywords: Apparatus and Instruments; Appointment; Bacteria; Cells; Center Core Grants; Characteristics; Collaborations; Communicating Junction; Disease; Disorder; Educational workshop; Environment; Epithelial; Equipment and Supplies; Faculty; Funding; Gap Junctions; Generalized Growth; Goals; Grant; Growth; Human; Human, General; Immune; Immune response; Individual; Institutes; Investigation; Investigators; Life; Location; Low-resistance Junction; Maintenance; Maintenances; Man (Taxonomy); Man, Modern; Mentors; Microbe; Microbial Biofilms; Nexus; Nexus Junction; Oral; P30 Mechanism; P30 Program; Phase; Programs (PT); Programs [Publication Type]; Recruitment Activity; Research; Research Personnel; Research Resources; Researchers; Resources; Salaries; Scientist; Site; Symbiosis; Time; Tissue Growth; Training; Travel; Wages; Workshop; base; biofilm; career; career development; catalyst; commensalism; cost; craniofacial; craniofacies; disease/disorder; host response; immunoresponse; insight; member; microbial; microbial colonization; microbial interaction; microorganism interaction; mouse model; ontogeny; programs; public health relevance; recruit; skills; tool
Project start date: 2009-09-17
Project end date: 2011-08-31
Budget start date: 17-SEP-2009
Budget end date: 31-AUG-2010
PFA/PA: RFA-OD-09-005
1P30DE020751-01 (2009): $920383