Purpose of the Program
Q. Why is career development of Translational Scholars in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine important?
A. This program aims to train leaders who will apply pharmacogenomics knowledge to the eventual integration of personalized medicine into routine practice. Such leaders should be cross-trained in both clinical and pharmacogenetics research areas so that they understand clinical practice, genetics and genomics, pharmacology and drug science, statistics, and epidemiology and/or clinical trial design. NIH wants to address the scarcity of investigators who have received such cross-training through this highly selective program.
Q. What is the optimal desired candidate and research project?
A. An applicant should
- Have a demonstrated interest in a translational career in pharmacogenomics.
- Propose a research project that is independent, that builds on his/her prior training and experience, and takes advantage of the mentors’ skill sets.
- Propose individualized, didactic coursework and tailored, specialized training.
- Be in an environment that will prepare him/her to compete successfully for a tenure track or equivalent position in research translation by the conclusion of the career award.
Q. What can career development award funds be used to obtain?
A. Funds for this award should aid in obtaining protected time and research project supplies. Allowable costs could include: release time from clinical responsibilities; support for supplies or services for a research project; partial support for a technician or project manager or statistician; or funds to support coursework. These funds should be leveraged by applicants in ways specific to their own needs.
Q. Are there special opportunities or features of this program?
A. Awardees will attend at least one CTSA trainee meeting and one PGRN open scientific meeting per year. They may also propose a rotation with the Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation or a collaboration with industry.
Q. What are the immediate goals of the program?
A. This award program should begin to increase the number of successful, early stage investigators in this field within the next 5-6 years.
Q. What will be the ultimate measures of success of the program?
A. The program will be evaluated based on the success of its awardees. Examples of successful awardees include individuals who
- Take research and development positions in academia or industry.
- Lead pharmacogenomics-guided clinical trials in academia or industry.
- Contribute scientifically to the body of evidence leading to translation of pharmacogenomics and changes in clinical practice.
- Are selected as representatives on scientific advisory boards that make recommendations on drug usage, label changes or coverage decisions.
Background for the Program
Q. What is the CTSA?
A. The CTSA consortium is an NIH Roadmap initiative. A major part of the CTSA mission is to educate, train and develop the careers of basic scientists and clinicians in order to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into current practice. See http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/clinical_research_resources/clinical_and_translational_science_awards
Q. What is the PGRN?
A. The NIH PGRN is a network of independent groups studying high priority projects to identify and understand genomic predictors of drug responses. A major part of the mission of the PGRN is cutting-edge discovery research. See http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/FeaturedPrograms/PGRN
Q. Why combine the two large programs?
A. This program leverages the strengths of the CTSA and the PGRN to facilitate training in a range of patient-oriented research projects in personalized medicine.
A link between the CTSA and the PGRN will also provide opportunities for collaboration between basic researchers and clinically oriented ones, thereby propeling translational science.