CIRM Interdisciplinary Stem Cell
Training Program at UCSD Application Process

1. application process
2. deadlines for 08-09 year
3. program requirements
4. length of appointments
5. application requirements
6. selection process

Application Process

The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Training Program at UCSD, from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), is concluding its second year. This grant supports 6 pre-doctoral students, 4 postdoctoral fellows, and 6 clinical fellows.  The first two years has been very successful, and we wish to continue to identify trainees with high potential and engage them in this exciting program.

At this time, nominations of new trainees and proposals for the continuation of current trainees are requested.  Nominating faculty should make an effort to nominate top applicants from a diverse pool of potential fellows.

Nomination packets for support of predoctoral or postdoctoral CIRM fellows should be sent by email to Larry Goldstein, CIRM UCSD Research and Training Program Director, at lgoldstein@ucsd.edu and a copy to jbraswell@ucsd.edu.  Please ensure that each packet consists of all required documentation consolidated into a SINGLE Microsoft Word file and named with the first initial and last name of the trainee, e.g., LGOLDSTEIN. Please include the following items as appropriate for the type of nomination.

Contact Program Director Larry Goldstein at (858) 534-9702 or Lgoldstein@ucsd.edu if you have any questions.  You may address your administrative questions to Jennifer Braswell, (858) 534-2412 or jbraswell@ucsd.edu.

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Deadlines for the 08-09 year

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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Following acceptance into the Training Program, trainees will participate in the specific training activities for the length of their fellowship. Ordinarily, this will take the form of participation in required courses in the first year of training with participation in optional and recommended courses, journal club, and colloquia in the remaining years.  We expect to be able to renew this grant under CIRM RFA 08-03 or identify other funding at the end of the 3-year term to continue this program. Trainees will be asked to seek outside funding as appropriate in order to use our financial resources to bring training to as many trainees as possible.

1) Core course in Stem Cell Biology, Medicine, and Ethics: This course will be offered in winter, 2009 and covers human embryonic and other types of stem cells and their uses in basic science, translation, and clinical research and application. Units on different stem cell types, organ systems, chemical approaches, engineering approaches and computational approaches are included. Each unit presents basic, translational, and clinical elements of stem cell biology including what is known about the possible presence of stem cells in different systems, their identification, purification and properties, possible or actual uses of stem cells in animal models of relevant diseases, and possible or actual uses in clinical trials for organ systems and disease states.

2) The research ethics component is directed by Dr. Mary Devereaux to address ethical, legal, economic, and social issues related to stem cell research and its clinical applications. This component runs in parallel with the stem cell core biology and medicine course so that some of the ethical issues raised in the stem cell core course can be treated directly as "case studies" in the ethics course. Course sessions consist of lectures, case analyses, and small-group sessions. Topics to be covered will include: Ethical and public policy issues in stem cell research; obligations of investigators and institutions; oversight committees and review processes; procurement of embryos and germ cells; derivation, banking, and distribution of human embryonic stem cell lines; research use of human embryonic stem cell lines; managing conflict of interest; collaboration and data sharing; clinical trials; access to therapies; and responsible conduct of research.

3)  Stem cell laboratory methods course: The UCSD Human Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility offers multiple training modules that introduce trainees to basic and advanced methodologies for research with hESCs. The training modules include culture, differentiation, gene transduction and phenotyping of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The goal is to provide enough initial training so that trainees can launch independent research projects that utilize hESCs. It is required for all new trainees unless they have extensive laboratory experience with hESCs. Training sessions are offered on a regular basis. Contact Karl Willert (kwillert@ucsd.edu) and Jennifer Braswell (jbraswell@ucsd.edu) for further information.

4) Stem cell journal club: This course in fall, spring, and summer has a different trainee presenting a paper each week, for discussion and critique by the trainees and faculty participants.

5) Clinical fellows monthly seminar series: The series is led by a senior faculty member on the topic of translational potential of stem cell biology; these seminars are optional for non-clinical trainees.

6)  Monthly Stem Cell Colloquium: Trainees should attend and present their research when appropriate at the monthly Southern California Stem Cell Consortium organized by the Burnham Institute.

7) Attendance at annual scientific meeting: Each trainee should attend one appropriate scientific meeting per year, e.g., ISSCR, at which they present the results of their research.

8)  San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell Meeting: Each year, we will hold a stem cell meeting in collaboration with Salk, TSRI, and Burnham at which faculty and trainees present results of their research in a forum designed to inform each other and to inform new students, postdocs, and clinical fellows of opportunities in stem cell research training at UCSD and in La Jolla.

9) Annual CIRM Scholars meeting: All CIRM fellows from southern California institutions are asked to participate in the Southern California Training Programs, the CIRM Annual Grantee meeting, or CIRM’s choice of annual meeting. Details from CIRM are forthcoming, and the grant provides travel funds to meet the costs of attendance.

10)  Advisory committee and annual reviews: Predoctoral and postdoctoral Fellows must have a 5-person advisory committee and Clinical Fellows must have a 3-person advisory committee chosen in consultation with the steering committee. Each committee should include, at minimum, a basic stem cell scientist, a clinical or translational scientist applying stem cells to a clinical problem, and a physical scientist or engineer interested in developing physical methods for stem cell manipulation. As appropriate, the trainee should appoint a co-mentor from a basic or clinical science background to ensure full integration of basic science approaches to clinical application. The role of this committee will be to: 1) Guide the trainee's selection of a feasible research project, with emphasis on its potential for independent and critical research; 2) Insure that the trainee is making progress in meeting departmental requirements or advancing towards their research and career goals; 3) Insure that the trainee develops the ability to communicate ideas through journal clubs, seminars, and group research meetings. We will ask clinical fellows to undergo written annual reviews monitored by the steering committee.

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LENGTH OF APPOINTMENTS

Term of awards
Except in 2006-2007, the expected length of the fellowship will be two years for pre-docs and post-docs, and 2-3 years for Clinical Fellows, pending successful participation in the program and continued mutual benefit.  Renewal of appointments occurs annually throughout the length of the fellowship.

Predoctoral trainee terms, with the exception of 2006-2007, will run from October 1 to September 30.  This schedule is intended to coordinate with predoctoral students’ selection of a lab and training-grant faculty’s evaluation of student potential.

Postdoctoral trainee terms will also run from October 1 to September 30, except in the 2006-2007 year.  The history of the postdoc and the needs of the mentoring PI will be considered by the steering committee when determining the appointment term.

Clinical Fellows’ terms, except in 2006-2007, will be July 1 to June 30, to coordinate with the assignment of clinical positions, which are usually assigned to begin in July.

Information in individual fellow’s appointment letters will provide details for each individual scholar, and may be different from these general policies.

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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Current Fellows (submit by August 15, 2008)

CURRENT TRAINEES
(predoctoral, postdoctoral, and clinical) should submit:

1. A short letter from the Fellow’s supervisor (PI or mentor) supporting the continuing appointment of the Fellow that gives a short summary of his or her progress during the past year.  The letter should confirm that the Fellow is meeting the commitments of the program, identify successes during the 07-08 years, discuss any omissions or difficulties the Fellow has experienced, identify steps to address these issues, and give the reasons why the fellowship support should be continued.
2. A 1-2 page statement written by the Fellow describing his/her research progress in the last year, and future plans in stem cell research. The summary must explain how the research is relevant to stem cell biology, and why the fellowship support should be continued.
3. An updated CV.
4. Copies of any publications that resulted from the fellowship.
5. Any other information the Fellow thinks would be supportive of his or her continuing fellowship.

 New Fellows  (submit by August 29, 2008)

A nomination packet for a PREDOCTORAL STUDENT should include (submit by August 29, 2008):

1. A short letter of nomination from the PI that names the student and gives a short summary of his or her thesis project or scientific direction. The letter should also confirm that the PI has discussed the requirements of the program with the student and that BOTH the student and the PI are committed to participating fully in program activities.
2. A 1-2 page statement written by the student describing his or her research interests, scientific accomplishments to date, and future plans in stem cell research. This research summary must explain how the student's research is relevant to stem cell biology.
3. The student's GRE scores (raw and percentile), undergraduate and graduate GPA and institution, and a 1-2 page CV.
4. Two letters of recommendation, in addition to the letter from the proposed mentor (PI).

A nomination packet for a POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW should include (submit by August 29, 2008):

1. A short letter of nomination from the PI that names the postdoc and gives a short summary of his/her thesis project or scientific direction. The letter should also confirm that the PI has discussed the requirements of the program with the postdoc and that BOTH the postdoc and the PI are committed to participating fully in program activities.
2. A 1-2 page statement written by the postdoc describing his/her research interests, scientific accomplishments to date, and future plans in stem cell research. This research summary must explain how the postdoc's research is relevant to stem cell biology.
3. A 1-2 page CV for the postdoc.
4. Two letters of recommendation, in addition to the letter from the proposed mentor.

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SELECTION PROCESS

Selections will be made by the Steering Committee. Trainees will be selected "blind" to the program or department of origin, that is, trainee selection by the Steering Committee will be competitive and based on several criteria, including:

1. The proposed trainee's previous academic and research performance.
2. The choice of research problem and its relevance to stem cell biology, with a high priority placed on human embryonic stem cells or applications of other types of stem cells to human disease.
3. The potential for interdisciplinary research that would develop or use novel methods or approaches to human stem cell biology.

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