CTSA Postdoctoral T32 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - : Training future generations of researchers to think critically and collaborate effectively in cross-disciplinary team environments is essential to the advancement of translational science in the United States. With the accelerating pace of discovery in biomedical science, the need for translational scientists is greater than ever. The goal of this postdoctoral T32 application is to provide high-level, effective training to translational science researchers at the postdoctoral level who will build a community of clinical and translational scientists by leveraging the multi-institutional, multidisciplinary strengths of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) based at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTH-H). Thanks to the TL1 Training Core that preceded this application and was awarded as part of the CCTS CTSA, we have a successful track record of training productive translational scientists. Postdoctoral trainees supported by the TL1 Training Core were employed at two major institutions within the Texas Medical Center (TMC), UTH-H and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Moreover, a unique aspect of our CCTS is the addition of partner institutions spanning the state. In this T32 proposal, we will continue to train leaders in translational science while integrating trainees from all CCTS partner institutions. This will bring significant value to the T32 as these trainees will draw upon the broad scientific experiences inherent in distinct research institutions across Texas. Furthermore, the training faculty and their mentees at the CCTS partner sites will bring awareness of unique research topics and collaborative opportunities to the forefront of the T32 trainee experience for those based in the TMC. The following aims will enable us to achieve our application goals: 1) Attract and retain postdoctoral trainees with potential to develop into leaders in translational science; 2) Leverage the strengths of the unique Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences ecosystem to train postdoctoral fellows in principles of translational science; 3) Recruit postdoctoral fellows in disciplines beyond the T0-T1 phases of the translational science spectrum. We will utilize the world-class educational and research opportunities of the TMC to carry out these aims and train translational scientists across the state. By drawing upon the trainees available at our partner institutions that train postdoctoral fellows (Rice University, UT-RGV and UT-Tyler), this program is uniquely positioned to create the translational science leaders of the future. We anticipate the training will create a valuable pool of translational scientists who are innovative, productive, and capable of addressing the health needs of a wide-ranging populace.
