This training program is an NIH funded program that is designed to bring together students and graduate faculty from the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (UT) and Texas Southern University (TSU) to provide greater diversity in research and training opportunities. 

This interaction has two major goals: 

1. to provide the highest quality training (courses, research training, personal mentorship, seminars, etc.) for all trainees; and
2. to increase the number of highly trained minority Ph.D.s in toxicology. 

The training grant will be utilized to support predoctoral students at each institution.  The institutions will work together for recruitment, admission and supervision of predoctoral trainees. 

The major strength is that students in the combined program will benefit by:

1. utilizing established toxicology as well as other courses at UT and experience more breadth from joint courses,
2. a broader didactic teaching exposure from the joint faculty,
3. exposure to a joint seminar program,
4. advisory committees formed from faculty from both institutions,
5. conducting first year research rotations through laboratories at both institutions, 
6. participation in a joint journal club. 

The trainee faculty consist of an interdisciplinary faculty from TSU and UT from the Medical School, School of Public Health and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  The research interests of the training faculty are primarily focused on cellular and molecular toxicology associated with environmental agents, radiation and drugs.  The specific research interests are varied and include:  mechanisms of lung injury, apoptosis, neurotoxic effects of lead, environmental estrogens, chemotherapeutic injury, nephrotoxicity of pesticides and metals, Cyto P450, and DNA repair mechanisms, to name a few. 

Predoctoral trainees will be admitted to the program based on their GPA, GRE scores, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and scientific background.  The proposed predoctoral training program will consist of core courses for each institution, required toxicology courses, extensive tutorial exposure, seminar program, journal club, a course to develop literature evaluation and oral presentation skills, and participation in regional and national conferences.  The predoctoral trainees will be monitored throughout their tenure and the joint program will report to an external advisory committee.  The combined facilities and research experience of the training faculty are extensive to provide an excellent opportunity for all trainees. 

Program Directors

David J. McConkey, Ph.D. 
Program Director 
University of Texas - Houston 

Arun Jadhav, Ph.D. 
Program Director 
Texas Southern University 

Rules and Regulations for Support by this Training Program.