The MPRC T32 training program has trained 30 postdoctoral fellows during the last 15 years.  The multidisciplinary program has trained M.D.’s (5), Pharm.D.’s (2), DVM (1), clinical Ph.D.s (13) and basic scientists (6) . Importantly, > 90% of the trainees have gone on to pursue primary research careers and have averaged more than 1.5 grant awards per trainee. 

     The overarching aim of the MPRC T32 Training Program is to establish a training environment designed to enhance academic research skills, facilitate the Fellow’s capacity implement their own mark in science and launch the next phase of their scientific career.  Basic and clinical post-doctoral trainees are exposed to aspects of their complimentary disciplines (basic <->clinical) in order to expand their knowledge base and promote translationally relevant research. 

     The MPRC T32 program is not just another post-doc position.  The NIMH has specifically awarded resources for a prescribed training experience geared towards advancing the academic and career needs of the Fellow. The Fellowship is predicated on a research program/hypothesis that has a realistic potential to provide a meaningful training opportunity.  The Primary Mentor acknowledges the inherent prioritization of training goals and the ultimate purpose of the Fellowship. 

All mentors receive Mentorship and Diversity/Equity/Inclusion training prior to accepting a Trainee.

 

Creating a healthy, encouraging, collaborative, dynamic experience,  

improves probabilities for truly translational work 

and germinate skills for a long-term satisfying career.

 

The T32 program exists in 3 overlapping domains:  

   First domain consists of lab work, work-flow management, manuscript and grant writing.  The majority of the most valuable academic training occurs within the lab at the guidance of the primary mentor with additional collaboration from the Mentor Team. 

   Second domain consists of the T32 working in concert with the trainee and mentor to facilitate the development and engagement of a fruitful mentor-trainee relationship.  The T32 role is to help put in place an empirically-derived scaffold designed to optimize mentor-trainee relations and provide encouragement, course corrections if need, and support along the way. 

   Third domain consists of value-added opportunities designed to synergize with Domains 1 and 2. The opportunities include a) Exploring Translational Psychiatry modules (see below), b) Effective Research Design, c) Grant & Foundation Writing Workshops, d) Scientific Leadership & Career Guidance and e) General wellness, life hacks and work-balance.  In this domain we aim to sharpen essential academic skills, help infuse additional intrinsic value to the work and entertain discussions about what makes a successful career in science.

 

The first year looks something like this...

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Exploring Translational Psychiatry course:  The goal is to create a vision for translational work and a forum to discuss and deliberate the bigger-picture.  Three overarching principles will guide the course; 1) NIMH’s RDoC, experiential, 2) problem based learning, and 3) peer-to-peer discussion and presentation. 

Two'phases' define the course trajectory:  

RDoC as a dynamic platform for discussion and brain-storming.  This phase offers a means launch field trips and discussions related to cutting edge neuroscience technology (core facilities, specific genomics/imaging techniques and personal DTI neuroimaging) and clinical investigation tools (computer based tasks, questionnaires and assessments will be reviewed and taken). 

Translational Loops. The ‘Loop’ occurs in two classes.  First, trainees will have the opportunity to learn firsthand from patients about the real-life implications and unmeet clinical needs of patients with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety/trauma, and autism/ADHD (selected based upon cohort interest) (A).  These sessions are previewed, guided and reviewed by an attending psychologist/psychiatrists.  Second,

trainees will spend time reading

additional personal accounts and

working through the RDoC matrix to

identify key Domiains/Constructs/

Units descriptive of the illness in

general (B) and then descriptive

profiles of individual variations (C).

The goal will be to develop illness-

based ‘Matrix Constellations’ by

proposing uniquely affected constructs, methods of assessment and known mechanisms.  

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     The problem-based learning combined with peer-to-peer discussion aims to strengthen knowledge and understanding of the constellation of factors contributing to mental illness, meaningful translational targets and gaps in our understanding.