The UT Southwestern initiative is a continuation and expansion of the Mechanisms of Disease (MoD) and Translational Science graduate track that Dr. Yin created in 2008. Four graduate students completed that intensive, one-year program.

"They were like pioneers," Dr. Yin said. "These four brave souls are now third-year students, well into their dissertation research." Seven students joined the program in 2009.

In addition to Dr. Yin, five co-directors oversee the UT Southwestern MoD program:Dr. Helen Hobbs, chief of clinical genetics and director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center;Dr. Michael McPhaul, professor of internal medicine and clinical sciences and associate dean for student research at UT Southwestern Medical School;Dr. Milton Packer, chairman of clinical sciences; Dr. Philip Shaul, professor of pediatrics; andDr. Andrew Zinn, associate professor in the McDermott Center and internal medicine and associate dean for the Medical Scientist Training Program.

utsouthwestern/findfac/professional/0,2356,18242,00.html