Division of Cardiovascular Diseases Strategic Plan

Goals in Cardiovascular Research Training

3.2. Facilitate the entrance of outstanding research trainees into disciplines where larger pools of scientists are needed or where there is opportunity to hasten the acquisition of knowledge and its translation to clinical application

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Overview

The increasingly rapid pace of scientific research and technologic development is fostering new domains of investigation that require expertise in new academic fields that are frequently interdisciplinary. Technological advances in the physical, mathematical, informational, or social sciences provide ground-breaking approaches to long-standing biomedical questions. Such developments may create gaps in the areas of training covered by current portfolios and revive the need for research in scientific areas that were previously thought to be mature. Finally, paucities or declines in the number of investigators in other established disciplines may create additional training needs. The recognition of such gaps and actions to address them are essential for the growth and maintenance of the overall program.

Strategies to Accomplish this Goal May Entail:

  • • Through tools such as the creative use of the NIH Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization initiative and through interaction with DCVD and NHLBI program directors, identify understudied scientific domains and trends to determine how best to promote existing training opportunities within these domains.
  • Educate program staff concerning the various career development programs and how they might facilitate the entry of young scientists into scientific areas where increased numbers of researchers are needed.
  • Promote formal interactions with extramural scientists engaged in research and training (e.g., through presentations at investigator meetings, workshops, and symposia) to determine the need and opportunities for training programs in scientific domains where gaps exist.
  • Analyze the DCVD training and career development portfolio based on imperatives of the NHLBI Strategic Plan such as the application of new technologies to the investigation, treatment, and prevention of CV disease to identify areas where additional training is warranted.
  • Utilize the recommendations of the NHLBI Training Committee Retreat Meeting to ensure that existing programs or new programs meet the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan.
  • Inform potential trainees of opportunities in areas where gaps exist and encourage interaction with appropriate program staff.

Contributing Sources:

September 2008
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