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The past decade has witnessed a revolution
in the power of biologists to investigate fundamental mechanisms
underlying disease. This change has resulted from major advances
in biological research, coupled with the extraordinary power of
modern molecular genetics for identification of gene mutations
in disease. The result is that investigation of many human diseases
has gone beyond the descriptive level to the root causes. This
new knowledge means that the tools of genetics, immunology, cell
biology, molecular biology, and other disciplines can now be combined
to investigate disease pathogenesis, and to apply these findings
to issues of diagnosis and treatment. The Molecular Medicine graduate
training program at Yale was recently developed to address these
issues. This program was developed to offer an interdisciplinary
course of study that will foster an integrated view of disease,
built upon a rigorous foundation of basic sciences. The emphasis
on disease mechanisms and translational research is unique to
Molecular Medicine, and distinguishes it from other pre-doctoral
programs at Yale. The Predoctoral Training Program in Breast Cancer
Research will recruit individuals interested in careers in breast
cancer research to the Molecular Medicine Program, provide specialist
training in breast cancer-specific areas, and integrate their
training experience with basic scientists and clinicians investigating
breast cancer at Yale.
The program will:
- Recruit a cadre of trainees dedicated
to careers in breast cancer research.
- Provide didactic training in basic science,
disease mechanisms, and translational research with a specialized
emphasis on biology and pathobiology of the breast.
- Provide exposure to the clinical side
of breast cancer.
- Foster interactions with basic scientists
and clinicians engaged in all aspects of breast cancer research.
- Culminate with dissertation research
in laboratories directly involved in Breast Cancer Research.
Training faculty for
the Predoctoral Training Program in Breast Cancer Research have
been carefully selected.
- Faculty have outstanding research track
records.
- Faculty are experienced in training
predoctoral and post-doctoral students.
- Faculty investigate basic research problems
with direct relevance to breast cancer.
The Training
Program in Breast Cancer Research will provide intensive exposure
to clinical and translational research, but at the same time maintain
an emphasis on fundamentals of biology. The curriculum addresses
these issues through a structured program that strikes a balance
between fundamental and specialized areas. A unique feature of this
curriculum is that the core courses link classroom work to lab workshops
that incorporate gross clinical specimens and histological material.
In addition to course work, dissertation research will occur in
breast cancer research laboratories that run the gamut from fundamental
areas of cell growth regulation to rational development of cancer
therapeutics. Finally, exposure to the clinical arena is provided
through the Yale Cancer Center Breast Cancer Research Program, the
Training Meetings, and the Breast Cancer Conference/Clinic class.
These components also integrate predoctoral training with all other
facets of breast cancer work at Yale.
INTEGRATION
WITH THE BBS
Like other
PhD students in the biological and biomedical sciences, students
will be admitted through the unified graduate training program,
the BBS (http://info.med.yale.edu/bbs/).
Students will apply to the Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine
Track, and will have all rights and obligations associated with
the BBS, including the ability to work with faculty outside of the
BCRP. However, in accordance with the specialized focus on breast
cancer research, BCRP students will also undergo breast cancer-specific
training. Once students affiliate with a dissertation advisor and
degree-granting Ph.D. program, they will continue to maintain an
association with the BCRP and participate in training meetings.
CURRICULUM
Year 1. The first year
in graduate school consists of course work and a series of research
rotations. Incoming students will be affiliated with the Pharmacological
Sciences and Molecular Medicine Track. Breast Cancer Research Program
students will be assigned a trainer as faculty advisor. The advisor,
Program Director, and student will meet to jointly plan out a curriculum
for the student. In year 1, this will consist of course work and
three laboratory rotations. The rotations serve to train individuals
in design, execution, and interpretation of laboratory research
projects, to expose the trainees to a variety of research experiences,
and to enable trainees to identify compatible dissertation advisors.
Students are required to choose a dissertation advisor the end of
the first year. Students in the Breast Cancer Research Training
Program will maintain their Program affiliation, and participate
in the Program activities regardless of home department.
Year 2. In the second
year, students complete most of their course-work, take qualifying
examinations, and begin dissertation work. For qualifying exams,
students prepare written proposals in three areas different from
the dissertation area and defend them orally.
Years 3 and beyond. Upon
successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student
constitutes a dissertation committee including at minimum four members
in addition to the dissertation advisor. The student prepares a
written thesis prospectus. Students who have achieved Honors grades
in two graduate courses, successfully completed qualifying examinations,
and have had their written thesis prospectus approved are eligible
for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. by the Graduate School.
This must occur by the end of Year 3. Once admitted to candidacy
for the Ph.D., the primary focus of the students is dissertation
research. The Prospectus Committee will continue to advise the student
for the duration of the dissertation research. For completion of
the Ph.D., students submit and defend a written thesis describing
the research and present a thesis research seminar. Breast Cancer
Research program continuity will be maintained by participation
of students in the Training Program Meetings and BCRP activities.
Classes and Meetings
Students will take Foundation Courses to supplement important areas not adequately covered in their
undergraduate curricula. Students will take a series of Core
Molecular Medicine Courses that will cover human genetics
and pathogenesis. Specific Breast Cancer Training will
be provided through participation in BCRP meetings, the Breast
Cancer Research Discussion Group, and the Breast Cancer
Conference/Clinic course. Finally, all students will be trained
in Responsible Conduct of Research.
Foundation Courses
Although trainees will have biology or
chemistry undergraduate backgrounds, the depth and breadth of
prior training will vary with the individual. New students will
have had basic exposure to some, but not all of the fundamental
areas of genetics, cell biology, immunology, molecular biology,
physiology that are essential for understanding Molecular Medicine.
Unless students have had unusually strong undergraduate backgrounds
in these areas, they will be encouraged to take the foundation
sequence of cell and molecular biology graduate courses (Molecular
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes). The following
Foundation Courses will be taken as needed to supplement undergraduate
training.
*Molecular Cell Biology. Cell Biology
602a.
*Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes. MBand B 743b.
Genetics. Biology 605a. (introductory course)
Biology of the Immune System. Immunobiology 530a.
Principles of Physiology. Cell and Molecular Physiology 500b.
*will be required for most students
Molecular Medicine Core Curriculum
Human Molecular Genetics
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Cancer
Molecular Mechanisms of Disease
From Molecular Biology to Molecular Medicine: Principles, Applications,
and Perspectives
Breast Cancer Curriculum
Breast Conference/Clinic Course. Trainees
will participate in the clinical activities of the Yale Breast
Center, to provide an exposure to the evaluation and management
of breast cancer. This will provide a formal introduction to
the clinical challenge and human cost of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Research Program Research
Conference. (Reiss). The BCRP Conferences promote interaction
of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and PIs engaged
in basic research and clinical research in breast cancer. These
monthly meetings have been ongoing since 1995 and have been
highly successful as a forum for interaction of the Yale breast
cancer research community. These conferences, together with
the Training Program Meetings, will be important for educating
students in the clinical areas of research.
Breast Cancer Research Program Grand
Rounds. Trainees will be required to attend Yale Cancer Center
Grand Rounds talks sponsored by the BCRP. Students will be assigned
papers related to the seminars, and the papers and seminars
will be discussed in the Training Program Meetings.
APPLICATION
BCR training
program applicants will apply to the Pharmacology
and Molecular Medicine Track of the BBS.
Applicants specifically interested in the BCR training program
should include a section in the personal statement expressing
interest
in the program, and explaining why the student is interested in
joining the BCR training program.
For further information, contact David
F. Stern, director of the BCR program,
and co-director of the Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine Track:
df.stern@yale.edu
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