Biology of Breathing (BoB) offers a multidisciplinary and interactive training environment for basic and clinical science post doctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate summer students. In 2009, 6 summer students, 18 graduate students, and 8 research fellows are included in the BoB training program.

The Biology of Breathing training program is closely aligned with clinical fellowship research programs in Neonatology (Director: Dr. Shyamala Dakshinamurti), Pediatric Respirology (Director: Dr. B Louise Giles), Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Director: Dr. Allan Becker), and Respiratory Disease (Director: Dr. Andrew Halayko).  Through its principal investigators and trainees, training programs are also linked to academic departments including Immunology, Physiology, Medical Microbiology, and Oral Biology at the University of Manitoba.  BoB is also directly affiliated with two Canadian Institutes of Health Research supported national training programs: the National Training Program in Allergy and Asthma (NTPAA) based at University of Manitoba and the Integrated and Mentored Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Training Program (IMPACT) based at the Universities of British Columbia and Manitoba.  The work of its investigators and trainees also allies BoB with AllerGen, a National Centre of Excellence program based at McMaster University

Through Biology of Breathing (BoB) there are numerous funding opportunities to for trainee stipends and research from the Manitoba Institute of Child Health, NTPAA, IMPACT, AllerGen, Faculty of Graduate Studies University of Manitoba, provincial funding agencies, as well as national and international funding agencies. BoB also offers annual MICH Travel Awards for trainees to present their work at national and international meetings.

A list of trainee positions linked with projects directed by Biology of Breathing Investigators can be found here.

Training Program Activities
Journal Club and Research Discussion Group: A weekly 1-hr forum for trainees at all levels and senior investigators present and discuss their latest research and contrast with relevant published work from other groups

Local Research Excellence lectures:  These 1hr sessions are held 6-10 times annually as part of the Journal Club and Research Discussion Group series.  Selected by BoB trainees, lectures are given by well-recognized local investigators across fields and research disciplines. The sessions provide a systematic overview of local research programs and the unique technologies they employ, with the intention of spearheading multi-disciplinary collaborative research projects.

MICH Research Rounds: Weekly 1-hr sessions that feature research presentations by MICH investigators and trainees. BoB trainees are encouraged to attend regularly and present their work once annually.

Hands-On Research Skills Training: through our core research facilities and core senior technologists BoB provides ad hoc comprehensive training in state-of-the-art research skills and technologies.

Visiting Scientist Lecture Series: BoB hosts 6-8 internationally recognized scientists each year. During visits scientists give lectures at Manitoba Institute of Child Health Research Rounds, and participate in “meet-the-professor” lunches with BoB trainees, and in half-day workshops in which multiple trainees make short research presentations to the visitor, who provides direct feedback – these sessions establish contact between trainees and external scientists and open avenues for career-building.

National Training Program in Allergy and Asthma: through its affiliation with NTPAA, BoB trainees can participate in weekly research and didactic lectures, visiting speaker events, career development seminars, and symposia that increase learning opportunities and interactions with trainees across disciplines.

Integrated and Mentored Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Training Program:  through its affiliation with IMPACT, BoB trainees can attend and participate in monthly video-conferences featuring research by program trainees and investigators, as well as 4-5 professional development/research ethics seminars annually.

Bi-annual Origins of Lung Disease International Conference:  every two years BoB hosts a 1-2 day symposium that features up to 8 high profile invited speakers from Canada, USA and Europe, complementary presentations by BoB investigators, and features a trainee poster session adjudicated by visiting speakers and invited local researchers.

JM Bowman Pediatric Research Symposium:  organized by Dr. Shyamala Dakshinamurti as part of the Neonatology fellowship research program, this annual 1-day events includes 1-2 high profile clinical researchers and highlights local research in neonatology, thus providing a mechanism for interaction between BoB trainees and clinical scientists and fellows.

AllerGen: BoB is affiliated with AllerGen, a National Centre of Excellence program, based at McMaster University though association and activities of BoB trainees and investigators.  The program offers trainees opportunity to attend and present their data in annual meetings and career development conferences. As AllerGen members the trainees are eligible to apply for and receive travel awards to attend and present their work at international conferences.

National and International Scientific Symposia: BoB trainees are encouraged to attend and present their work through their eligibility for annual MICH Travel Awards.