|
Research into the pathogenesis, etiology,
and prevention of skin diseases is limited
and Canada lacks comprehensive systems
for training high quality researchers
in the properties and problems of the
skin. As a direct response to the call
for increased research training by key
skin health stakeholders at the 2004
CIHR Skin Health Research Priorities
Workshop, the CIHR Skin Research Training
Centre (SRTC) was recently launched.
Located at Vancouver General Hospital
Department of Dermatology and Skin Science,
this $1.8 million CIHR funded venture
will provide skin research training to
both clinicians and scientists. It is
anticipated that after its first six
years, the CIHR-SRTC will have supported
60 trainee-years of research representing
at least 6 postdoctoral research scientists,
12 clinician-investigators, and 10-12
MSc/PhD graduates to lead research in
skin inflammation, immunology, and repair
in Canada.
The CIHR-SRTC’s curriculum will
be individually tailored according to
the level and specific goals of each
trainee while ensuring that he/she achieves
a working familiarity with all dimensions
of skin research. The overall aim is
for trainees to develop both focused
research expertise as well as the skills
needed to effectively interact with basic
and clinical skin investigators across
the full translational spectrum. The
training program will focus on four priorities
that will coordinate with high clinical
impact research areas currently in need
of enhanced expertise and capacity. The
four key foci are: (1) skin inflammation,
pigmentation, and environmental interactions;
(2) wound healing and cutaneous stem
cells; (3) skin immunity and tolerance;
and (4) epidemiology, health outcomes,
and pharmaco-economics of skin diseases
in Canada. These four areas will be woven
into a tailored curriculum that includes
a core compulsory “skin research
foundations course” and a choice
of three customized advanced skin research
portfolio tracks centered on basic science,
clinical research, or epidemiology/health
outcomes.
The program and curriculum are being
developed for an initial intake of SRTC
trainees. Interested individuals are encouraged
to peruse the application instructions and form for application requirements (follow the link to the left).
With development of the SRTC, further
details will be available at www.skinresearch.ca
|
