Predoctoral Preparatory Program (P3) in Translational Research

Project Summary/Abstract
Leukodystrophies are a collection of rare genetic disorders that affect cerebral myelin development.
Exciting recent therapeutic advances, including gene therapy development for adrenoleukodystrophy
and metachromatic leukodystrophy, underscore the critical unmet need for therapeutic development
more broadly across the leukodystrophies. The future of innovation, however, is limited by the pipeline
of future translational researchers interested in rare diseases.
The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) Global Leukodystrophy Initiative Clinical Trials
Network (GLIA-CTN; U54TR002823) is an NIH-funded research consortium for leukodystrophy
collaboration and innovation across a network of 8 large US-based academic institutions. This
infrastructure provides a unique opportunity to recruit and support the next generation of rare disease
research leaders. We hypothesize that a formal education program in rare disease research targeting
junior research coordinators who are early in their career will facilitate long-term commitment and
passion for rare disease research. This is a population that is enriched with young scholars interested
in science who are often undecided about career paths or have had insufficient exposure to translational
research. The proposed program represents a novel collaboration between the Leukodystrophy Center
of Excellence (LCE) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), a GLIA-CTN site, and the
Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics Education (ITMAT Ed) programs at the Perelman
School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. In 2021-2022, the LCE and ITMAT Ed piloted the
Predoctoral Preparatory Program (P3) with 8 junior research coordinators, known as P3 scholars, based
exclusively within the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). In 2022-2023, the program expanded
to include 14 coordinators working at sites across the GLIA-CTN. Each year we aim to enroll 12-15
scholars who are junior research coordinators working within the GLIA-CTN. We recognize the
importance of diversity among future translational research leaders and will continue to recruit from
populations underrepresented in medicine (UIM).
In this application, we propose an education program, the Predoctoral Preparatory Program (P3),
which will (1) provide a curriculum related to responsible conduct of research and (2) prepare the next
generation of physician scientists in translational research through professional development workshops
and mentorship. This proposal is to further the development and implementation of a one-year program
focused on research and professional skills development, community building, and mentorship which is
fully integrated into a hands-on research experience through the GLIA-CTN research network.

Grant Number: 5R25TR005269-02
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Laura Adang