1. Advanced Multidisciplinary Training Program for Systems Biology
Yana Zavros, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
University of Cincinnati

2. Background
Many degree-granting programs strive to build expertise in tightly focused areas
isolated expertise cannot sustain adequate research progress in an era when total information accumulates at a much faster rate than the paradigms and methods from individual disciplines can effectively utilize
During this time of ‘big data’ (large/complex data sets):
traditional analyses are inadequate
train scientists that are not limited to techniques and ideas within a single discipline
research approaches that transcend departmental and traditional disciplinary boundaries
Emerging scientists need to acquire skills:
work in research teams
continually take advantage of new methods and concepts throughout their career

3. Objective
To prime researchers to tackle complex mechanisms of human disease using cross-disciplinary approaches
team-building: experts from diverse disciplines applying their unique perspectives to address collectively a problem
applying knowledge that melds two or more traditional disciplines to solve a problem
2-year training program that involves 32 program faculty members and selected pre-doctoral trainees matriculated into 13 degree-granting Ph.D. programs.

4. Administrative Structure
Program co-directors with complementary expertise:
biological sciences (Yana Zavros, Ph.D.)
computational sciences (Jarek Meller, Ph.D.)
Executive Committee
Bruce Aronow, Ph.D. (Professor, Biomedical Informatics)
Andrew Herr, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Divisions of Immunobiology and Infectious Diseases)
Evangelia Kranias, Ph.D. (Professor, Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics)
Mario Medvedovic, Ph.D. (Professor, Environmental Health)
Seongho Song, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences)
Internal Advisory Committee
James P. Herman, Ph.D. (Director, Neuroscience Training Program)
Gurjit (Neeru) K. Khurana Hershey, MD, Ph.D. (Director, Medical Scientist Training Program)
Raphael Kopan, Ph.D. (Director, Division of Developmental Biology)
Harinder Singh, Ph.D. (Director, Division of Immunobiology)
Susan Waltz, Ph.D. (Director, Cancer Therapeutics Training Program)
Peter S. White, Ph.D. (Director, Division of Biomedical Informatics)

5. Administrative Structure
Recruitment and Admissions Committee
Nathan Salomonis, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Pediatrics – Division of Biomedical Informatics)
Christian Hong, Ph.D. (Professor, Molecular and Cellular Physiology)
David Plas, Ph.D. (Associate Professor, Cancer Biology)
Student representatives – Nina Bertaux-Skeirik (Systems Biology and Physiology) and Alexander Thorman (Molecular Genetics)
Curriculum Committee
Christy Holland, Ph.D. (Professor, Biological and Medical Engineering)
Sookkyung Lim, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Mathematical Sciences)
Matthew Weirauch, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Pediatrics – Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology)
Student representatives - Jacob Bellman (Mathematics) and Christopher Burke (Mathematics)

6. Program Faculty
The 32 participating program mentors are identified as:
Biological-oriented scientists: applies the broad spectrum of tools found in the wet lab environment of biomedical research
Theoretical-oriented scientists: uses concepts and modeling to generate an experimentally testable theory or model
Interdisciplinary-oriented scientists: synthesizes approaches and theory from different disciplines with an integrative approach (e.g. computational chemistry applied to answer a biological question)

7. Trainees and Training Program
We recruit trainees into the program from matriculated graduate students in the 13 participating Ph.D. degree-granting programs:
Biomedical Engineering
Cancer and Cell Biology
Environmental Health Biostatistics
Immunology
Mathematical Sciences
Medical Scientist Training Program
Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology
Molecular and Developmental Biology
Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology
Neuroscience
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine
Systems Biology and Physiology
Biomedical Informatics

8. Trainees and Training Program
The objective will be achieved by implementation of a training plan that incorporates the following features:
Didactic and experiential training in interdisciplinary research concepts and approaches,
A student-centered and flexible curriculum custom tailored to meet the needs of each student via computational and biology elective courses,
A research project that will require the student to use interdisciplinary approaches under the mentorship of a multi-disciplinary set of faculty co-mentors, and
Students engaged in a community that encourages interaction between students and mentors through seminars, data and journal clubs, and an annual retreat.

9. Trainees and Training Program

10. Current Trainees
Based on the success of receiving the training grant, the University provided additional funds to allow us to provide support for another two trainees to join the the training program. This gives us a critical mass of 6 students in the training program in the first year. The awardees supported by the training grant are:
Jacob Bellman (T32)
Ph.D. candidate in Mathematics, Mentors: Sookyung Lim and Christian Hong
Nina Bertaux-Skeirik (T32)
Ph.D. candidate in Systems Biology and Physiology, Mentors: Yana Zavros and Mario Medvedovic
Christopher Burke (T32)
Ph.D. candidate in Mathematics, Mentors: Christian Hong and Seongho Song
Alexander Thorman (T32)
Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Genetics, Mentors: Jarek Meller and Andrew Herr
Mokryun (Lily) Baek (COM funds)
Ph.D. candidate in Systems Biology and Physiology, Mentors Christian Hong and Sookkyung Lim
Jeremy Riddell (COM funds)
Ph.D. candidate in Systems Biology and Physiology, Mentors Matthew and Harinder Singh

11. Opportunities and Challenges
Increasing applicant pool
Attracting minority candidates
Time commitment of program faculty
Infrastructure support
Program management, renewal application
Tracking trainees
Trainees for Fall 2015 (6 slots available)
Deadline for applications: August 9th 2015

12. Acknowledgements
Program co-director Jarek Meller, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Environmental Health)
Ms. Cheryl Holly (Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology)
Program faculty
Trainees
Supported by:
5T32GM105526
Institutional support:
Dean Ball of the College of Medicine
Graduate School enhancement funding for the doctoral Systems Biology and Physiology Graduate Program, Dr. Chip Montrose, Vice Provost and Dean, The Graduate School