Penn State Summer Translational Cardiovascular Sciences Institute (STCSI)
Description: The primary goal of this training program is to provide a new generation of future scientists and/or physicians with comprehensive research training and educational experiences that emphasize a translational approach to understanding cellular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathology and determinants of CVD risk across the lifespan. How this specific disease risk may be mitigated through development of behavioral prevention strategies and/or intervention therapeutics which capitalize on recent technological advances such as nano-scale bioengineering is also a primary goal of this training program. The current obesity and diabetes epidemics will necessarily lead to CVD healthcare challenges not previously experienced in the United States (i.e. earlier onset CVD, greater incidence of acute myocardial syndrome, increased incidence of congestive heart failure and irreversible cardiac damage). A comprehensive understanding of these emerging challenges is a necessary focus of this training program, and faculty associated with the Penn State Summer Translational Cardiovascular Sciences Institute (STCSI) are uniquely qualified to foster undergraduate training within this research cluster. We seek funding to lead to a new generation of physician/scientists with a more integrative world view of therapeutic intervention, prevention and problem solving for the 21st century CVD phenotype. In addition to completing specific research projects with individual mentors, we have identified four didactic areas which will help students respond to this specific research challenge: (i) understanding CVD risk incidence and assessment from infancy to old age, (ii) identification of mechanisms which underlie cardiovascular pathophysiology using human and animal models, (iii) understanding behavioral intervention research strategies to positively affect CVD risk, and (iv) identification of core technologies and novel applications of nano-scale biotechnology to better understand CVD biology and development of novel therapeutic interventions. The program extends beyond the classroom, with strong mentor-driven training in laboratory techniques, research application, and team science. Collectively, faculty associated with STCSI have amassed an impressive record of mentoring over 675 undergraduate trainees in various capacities. This proposal extends the program outside of Penn State's already impressive undergraduate catchment pool.
Funder: American Heart Association
Amount: $40,000
Funding type: training
Funder scheme: Undergraduate Fellowship
Start date: 2016-02-01
End date: 2018-01-31
Investigators: Keefe Manning, Keefe Manning
Institution: The Pennsylvania State University
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 16UFEL27930008
OpenAlex ID: G7382102547