The training program in Hemoglobin and Blood Protein Chemistry provides training to chemists, biochemists, biophysicists, and biologists in hemoproteins, blood proteins, and circulating proteins concentrating on biochemical studies. Our program thus focuses on three of the major areas of interest to the Hematology Division of NIDDK: (1) basic mechanisms involved in regulating the production and terminal development of blood cells (hematopoiesis) and in regulating the expression of genes relevant to normal blood cell maturation and function, (2) regulatory molecules, cytokines, and hematopoietic growth factors that influence blood cell production from hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors, and (3) iron and oxygen transport and regulation. The training faculty mainly focuses on the biochemistry of transcriptional regulation and of lymphocyte development and signaling. Training is provided through laboratory research under the direction of the participating faculty, through formal lecture courses in the participating departments, through regularly scheduled departmental and small group seminars, and through individual training in the use of instrumentation. Training includes X-ray crystallography, NMR, protein chemistry, gene regulation, immunochemistry, cell signaling, systems modeling and theoretical approaches. The interdisciplinary nature of the training program is achieved by quarterly meetings of the training faculty, postdoctoral and predoctoral trainees and by hands-on training in the instrumentation facilities. The training program has provided a continuous venue for interdisciplinary training at the University of California San Diego that bridges the main campus and the Health Sciences campus. Translational research training has been one of the long-standing goals of the program.
           

The twenty training faculty are from diverse programs including Chemistry and Biochemistry (10), Pharmacology/School of Pharmacy (4), Biology (3), and Medicine/Pathology (3). Historically, the emphasis of the program has been the biochemistry of hemoproteins and blood proteins, which explains the larger contribution from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. A highly collaborative group of faculty working on lymphocyte signaling, development, and stem cell biology has been assembled from departments across campus add translational depth.