Welcome to Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs
NIH T32 HL007775
The purpose of this training program is to
prepare MD, MD/PhD, or PhD postdoctoral fellows for research careers
in the multidisciplinary field of Transfusion Medicine. Since 1985, 54
individuals have participated in this Training Program at the
University of Pennsylvania. With few exceptions, all trainees have
pursued careers in academic medicine and have continued on in either
clinical or basic research having obtained many federal and
non-federal grants along the way. Of the 51 who have completed
training, 35 trainees have already become directors or associate
directors of academic blood banks, blood centers, and associated
clinical laboratories (coagulation, hematology, molecular diagnostics)
across the United States and are highly-regarded members of the
transfusion medicine community. Because of the many interested,
qualified applicants and our successful training record, the program
was awarded this T32 training grant beginning in 1994. This has
allowed us to provide support for 24 of the 54 individuals. The
uniqueness of this program lies in the availability of a broad-based
research environment coupled with a well-established clinical
Transfusion Medicine training program. This represents one of few such
Transfusion Medicine postdoctoral training programs in this country.
Research trainees conduct independent research for at least 2 years in
the laboratory of an experienced mentor. Mentors are selected among
faculty with interests that span broad areas of transfusion medicine
research including red cell and platelet membrane biochemistry and
structure, blood component and derivative utilization, hematopoiesis
and stem cell biology, blood coagulation, immunology and autoimmunity,
transfusion-transmitted diseases, and cellular engineering/gene
therapy. Opportunities to coordinate trainee research experience with
our Transfusion Medicine/Hemostasis Clinical Trial Network is
available along with a significant emphasis in the area of
translational research and cellular engineering in which our
institution has invested considerable resources since our last
competitive renewal. The mentors selected for this program include
many senior scientists with extensive experience training postdoctoral
fellows and with current, active, inter-laboratory collaborations. In
addition to investigative work, the Training Program comprises an
integrated mix of educational components including didactics, journal
clubs, seminars, and venues for presentation of trainees' research.
The program plan includes specific steps for recruitment of
individuals from underrepresented minority groups and for the training
of MD's with little research experience. Educational programs for
trainees in bioethics, grant writing, public speaking, laboratory
safety, laboratory management, career development, and business
etiquette are also included. The program's Director and Oversight
Committee strive to design an educational experience tailored for each
individual trainee.
