Multilevel & Lifecourse Approaches to NCD Prevention in Latin America

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的总体目标是加强拉丁美洲国家应对非传染性疾病（NCD）流行病的能力，通过一个综合培训计划，将多层次和生命过程的方法结合起来，并强调减少非传染性疾病的社会不平等的重要性。虽然培训一般与非传染性疾病相关，但该方案将特别强调与许多其他非传染性疾病相关的心血管疾病和相关风险因素。该方法是根据对该地区非传染性疾病研究相关技能差距的分析得出的，这些差距包括：1)缺乏正式培训机会；2)非传染性疾病研究经验的异质性；3)缺乏地方一级的导师；4)培养一支终生预防非传染性疾病的训练有素的领导骨干的巨大潜力。我们建议与拉丁美洲的两个研究机构建立伙伴关系，一个是危地马拉的中美洲和巴拿马营养研究所（INCAP），另一个是阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯的拉努斯国立大学。我们实现上述目标的战略重点是发展一个多学科项目，为该地区的初级研究人员提供短期、中期和长期的培训机会，无论是在研究地点还是在密歇根大学。我们将把面对面的活动与最先进的远程学习技术结合起来，制作分享和传播的学习材料。这些地点的项目机会包括非传染性疾病生命周期研究系列研讨会、当地组织的网络研讨会、期刊俱乐部和培训后指导研究。在密歇根大学，该项目包括为硕士和博士培训、短期暑期实习和中期博士后奖学金提供全面支持。所有来自该计划的研究都将在现场进行。这一综合项目将加强地方站点之间的研究和培训合作，最终目标是在拉丁美洲建立一个协同的非传染性疾病培训和研究中心网络，并加强地方机构开展地方培训项目和领导研究工作的能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall aim of this proposal is to strengthen the capacity of Latin American countries to address the non- communicable diseases (NCD) epidemic through a comprehensive training program that integrates multilevel and life course approaches and emphasizes the importance of reducing social inequalities in NCD. Although the training will be relevant to NCD generally, the program will especially emphasize cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors which are of relevance to many other NCDs. This approach is responsive to an analysis of the gaps in NCD research-related skills in the region which include 1) lack of formal training opportunities, 2) heterogeneity in NCD research experience, 3) a dearth of mentors at the local level, 4) high potential for developing a cadre of highly trained leaders in prevention of NCD through the lifespan. We propose to establish partnerships with two research sites in Latin America, the Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama (INCAP) in Guatemala, and the National University of Lanus, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our strategies for achieving the proposed goal focus on developing a multidisciplinary program that provides training opportunities for junior investigators from the region in the short, medium, and long terms, both at the sites and at the University of Michigan. We will combine in-person activities with distant learning state-of-the-art technologies to produce learning material that will be shared and disseminated. The program opportunities at the sites include a workshops series on NCD research through the lifespan, locally-organized webinars, journal clubs, and post-training mentored research. At the University of Michigan, the program entails provision of full support for master's and doctoral training, short-term summer internships, and medium- term post-doctoral fellowships. All research derived from this program will be conducted at the sites. This integrated program will enhance research and training collaborations between the local sites with the ultimate goals of developing a network of synergistic NCD training and research centers in Latin America, and to strengthen local institutional capacity to conduct local training programs and lead research efforts.