The overarching theme of the LINAT network is the role of thrombosis in arterial and venous vascular disease. An important integrative aspect of the network is organized around the concept of a “virtual graduate school”, whose main aim is to bring together researchers from different backgrounds and areas into one integrated work and teaching environment. The process is focused on creating the 'translational scientist' -- a researcher who comes from a specific discipline but is well versed in biochemical, genetic, clinical and epidemiological research, including aspects of ethics, experimental design, research methods, and data analysis. This researcher will be able to transcend the boundaries between these fields, and integrate various research tools in his/her own research efforts, or, in other words, will be able to shift between research tools to most efficiently and quickly advance the knowledge in the field.
Exchange programs: The focus of the program is exchange of scientific and technical personnel. This will involve the following personnel (and estimated time commitments):
a) PhD/MD fellows: 6-24 months
b) graduate students: 3-12 months
c) faculty: 2-4 months
d) technical staff: 1 month
The general goal of the exchange program is for investigators to work on research questions at the most appropriate LINAT Center, relating this work to the research they do at their home LINAT Center, learning new techniques and approaches not available at the home institution. The stay can be of variable and individualized duration, and, in particular for faculty and PhD students, may be followed with short visits after an initial longer stay. The general program includes:
a) involvement in a joint project between a home and host LINAT Center
b) participation in LINAT annual meetings and courses
c) participation in LINAT videoconferencing efforts including lab meetings, instructional courses and seminars
Annual Meeting and Associated Courses: The LINAT group will host an annual meeting of 3-4 days duration alternating between the USA and Europe. The meeting will be comprised of two parts:
a) scientific sessions devoted to the presentation of work in progress in an interactive, seminar-like format
b) formal courses designed for the participants and trainees.
Course attendees include all the trainees, core members and associate members of LINAT. Non-member scientists are invited according to their areas of expertise in response to specific themes determined by the core members. Senior faculty of the Centers prepare and teach the courses. The courses are integrated, and very different from courses consisting of a series of lectures; rather, the courses teach students to approach similar problems from different viewpoints. Courses are intensive and interactive, and include 4-5 individuals from each Center as attendees, and 2-3 from each Center to teach. Working and teaching together on-site through the intensive translational research courses supports in-depth integration of research among the six LINAT Centers.
