The Bioengineering Cardiovascular Training Program (BCTP) provides an opportunity for predoctoral students interested in cardiovascular science and engineering to receive training support for their research under the guidance of excellent mentors. The program will simultaneously enrich the trainee’s research and strengthen the future of cardiovascular-related research and technology development in the United States.

The BCTP is co-directed by Dr. Michael Regnier and Dr. Ying Zheng. Our program manager is Dr. Katie Mitzelfelt, and we have a Steering Committee that selects trainees and monitors their training progress. Training support is usually provided for 2 years. Cardiovascular based research projects that involve collaboration between at least two research laboratories will be preferentially considered.

Participating departments include: Bioengineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pathology, and Physiology & Biophysics. Predoctoral students from other departments may be considered. Students are eligible after being accepted into a laboratory and supported by the faculty mentor for at least one quarter. Faculty not currently in the BCTP program will need to apply to join the BCTP faculty by sending their CV/Biosketch, a training record, and short description of their research interests to Dr. Regnier (mregnier@uw.edu), Dr. Zheng (yingz@uw.edu), and Katie Mitzelfelt (kmitz@uw.edu).

There are three main components of the training program:

1. Research in the laboratory of a BCTP faculty mentor on some aspect of cardiovascular physiology, pathology, development of therapeutic treatment, diagnostics and/or imaging.
2. A didactic component that includes a specialized course (Cardiac Bioengineering), a clinical cardiac imaging preceptorship, a seminar series that provides both broad-based knowledge and advanced concepts in focused areas, and a monthly journal club. Trainees with identified weaknesses in mathematics, engineering and/or integrative physiology will be strongly encouraged to do additional didactic training.
3. Communication and professional skills training by participation in seminar series, trainee seminars, and scientific writing programs. Emphasis is placed on career development, public speaking, manuscript preparation and writing fellowships or grant proposals (NIH, AHA, NSF, etc.) at the end of the training period.

The BCTP actively seeks diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and cultural experiences that will support an innovative and inclusive community of trainees. It is committed to the recruitment and retention of students with disabilities, historically and currently marginalized, underrepresented, economically disadvantaged and first-generation students.