NIH/NIDDK Gastroenterology Training Program
NIH Training Grant
The Division's NIH Training Grant was initially funded in 1976. The Division has trained numerous local gastroenterologists in San Diego as well as developed several academicians at University-based medical schools, including some with leadership and administrative positions.
Lars Eckmann, MD
Director
Contact Information
About the Program
The aim of the research training program is to develop independent investigators who will devote their career to research on fundamental aspects of digestive diseases and train individuals from the adult and pediatric GI programs.
The Training Grant supports, per year:
- 4 Postdoctoral Trainees (MD or PhD) (3 Adult GI and 1 Pediatric GI)
- 2 Predoctoral Trainees that will lead to a PhD degree
The grant funds 2 years of a Gastroenterology Research Fellowship training slot. A training slot is comprised of 2 research years and 1 clinical year.
Postdoctoral training involves 2 years of supervised, self-directed laboratory research aimed at developing the trainee's ability to formulate meaningful scientific questions and hypotheses, design and conduct experiments to test hypothesis, and present results in oral and written form. Laboratory research is performed in the laboratory of faculty sponsors of the Training Grant and supplemented, as appropriate, by didactic course work.
The predoctoral program for PhD candidates involve research training within the laboratory of a faculty sponsor under the auspice of the Biomedical Science Graduate Program.
The training faculty includes basic scientists at UCSD as well as neighboring research institutes where there is close collaboration. The program is designed for graduate students and MD or PhD candidates who are committed to an academic career in digestive sciences. Special efforts are made to attract minority candidates. At completion, postdoctoral trainees are competitive for entry level independent funding and predoctoral trainees are highly competitive for outstanding postdoctoral positions.
Research performance sites include UCSD, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla Institute, Burnham Institute, and The Salk Institute.