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Trekking into new territoryTranslational Biology and Molecular Medicineby Maureen Kovacik  On the popular sixties TV show Star Trek, the mission of the crew of the Starship Enterprise was to "boldly go where no man has gone before." The same can be said for BCM faculty who will lead Baylor students where virtually no other graduate students have previously ventured—the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine program. "This program is taking creativity to new heights," said Dr. Susan L. Hamilton, chair of the department of molecular physiology, who championed the program from its inception. "We wanted to develop a new type of curriculum to train students beyond the established norms." The program trains Ph.D. students to address clinical biological problems from a basic science perspective—an emerging concept of which BCM is at the forefront. The program was touted as a top example of something new and creative in BCM's recent recertification process, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute recently awarded the program a four-year grant of $850,000. "Many lab developments were not being moved into clinical applications," said Hamilton. "We hope this program will change the way we approach getting research to the patients who can benefit from it." As one of only five programs in the Graduate School that stretches across a number of departments, students will be able to do research in areas such as cell and gene therapy, cardiovascular biology and diseases, inflammation and infectious diseases, and cancer just to name a few. "We have more than 100 faculty members with research programs in every department and research center at Baylor. Participating students are able to conduct research as well as see patients who are taking part in clinical trials," said Dr. David P. Huston, a BCM professor of medicine and immunology and who co-chairs the program with Dr. Mary Estes, professor of molecular virology and microbiology. The curriculum includes a bench-to-bedside seminar series. Five times a year, a student will focus on a different theme and meet with faculty members versed in translational research to discuss pathophysiology and treatment options. Also, instead of having one mentor in the graduate program, students will have two—one basic and one clinical. "There are a number of hoops to jump through when you talk about taking research from bench to bedside," said Huston. "This program helps generate a dialogue among the different disciplines that will help basic and clinical scientists better understand each others' perspectives." The Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine program has been well received by students with approximately 10 students entering each year. It is expected the program will grow to include 40 to 50 students. "I applied because I want to be well-versed in both basic and clinical arenas," said Donald R. Shaffer, who is finishing his first year in the program. "I think this program reflects the direction of research in the future and gives its graduates an advantage over other scientists in translational biology." Jan Ole Kemnade, a medical student who is also pursuing a Ph.D., wanted to join because he felt it would help him achieve his goal of having a clinical practice while conducting research in a lab. "I feel this program embodies my future vision by providing insight into the best way to combine basic and clinical science," he said. "I couldn't ask for a more perfect situation to help me achieve what I want to accomplish in my career." Geoffrey Preidis, a second-year M.D./Ph.D. student at BCM who is currently treating patients in rural Haiti, agreed. "My reason for going into medicine is to acquire the tools necessary to bring modern medical care to those around the world that have none," he said. "The TBMM program will allow me to keep focusing on patients in places like rural Haiti, while obtaining the best basic science education to better serve these populations' needs in the future." The BCM graduate program as a whole is enriched because students in other programs have access to the new courses, said Hamilton, who credits the successful collaboration as "the result of the combined efforts of an incredible number of people who believed in it." |
Patient CareResearchTrekking Into New Territory: Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Closing the Gap Between Lab and Clinic EducationTulane's Journey Back to New Orleans Community ServiceAlumni & DevelopmentCollege News
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Volume 2, Issue 2, Summer 2006 |
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