May 20, 2011

Dear Colleagues:

Dear Colleagues: We are all delighted that the CATER pre-doctoral training program was renewed for another five years starting September 1, 2009. This prestigious training program in regenerative medicine brings together students from Pathology and Bioengineering in an exciting and comprehensive study program.

We implemented a new requirement in the renewal application. NIH urged us to ensure that all faculty members be involved in the training process. If you are not currently mentoring a student, it is vital that you nominate potential student(s), serve on one of the program's committees or present at the CATER seminar (this is a credit class taught by Dr. Monga, who is responsible for what materials are presented). NIH will continue to measure our success by how effectively we manage the relationship between faculty status and participation. In addition this should help to correct a deficiency in our nomination rates that was highlighted in the review. Please give some thought to who you could nominate for this program.

NIH is funding six students each year which allows the program to fund students for a two year term (in the second and third year of their graduate studies). We will alternately, add two or three second year students depending on the number of third year students that carry-over from the previous year. This cycle of new and old students each year will enable the program to have a mix of second and third year students.

Eligible students must be second year students in the fall of 2011, all of whom will remain associated with the program until graduation. The program is designed to give trainees a career advantage through coursework and networking. It is not designed as solely a source of funds. In this nomination packet that has been sent all faculty members we have provided a full detailed description of the program including course requirements and nomination form.

Trainee selection will be announced in July, and training activities will begin with the academic term for the fall of 2011; funding will start September 1, 2011. Please note that students must be either US citizen or a permanently registered alien of the United States and have no NIH support to be eligible to participate in the program.

Sincerely,

     Robert Bowser, PhD
     Director, CATER program