Predoctoral Training Program in Reproductive, Perinatal & Pediatric Epidemiology

描述（由申请人提供）：新生儿和儿童疾病可能是在生殖、围产期和儿科（RPP）期间引起的损伤导致的衰弱甚至致命的结果。对抗这些疾病的最大希望是加强研究人员的队伍，以更好地了解可能改善RPP健康的模式，风险因素和干预措施。该RPP流行病学培训计划的总体目标是在五年的资助期内每年培训五名博士预科学生。我们将确定高素质的申请人，重点是少数民族学员，并为他们提供严格和实用的培训，使他们成为RPP流行病学的新兴领导者所需的基本基础和方法学工具。匹兹堡大学有许多优势，确保我们在实现这一目标的成功。首先，RPP计划将从我们的流行病学部门之间现有的强大而灵活的合作中汲取教师;环境健康;人类遗传学;行为和社区健康科学;妇产科;儿科;精神病学;免疫学;细胞生物学和生理学;护理学院和牙科学院。第二，由我们的教师领导的许多联邦资助的研究为论文研究领域提供了丰富的现有工具，包括：早产;先兆子痫，不孕不育和性传播疾病，自发性流产，寿命方法，情绪障碍，药物滥用，伤害，营养和肥胖，环境健康，青少年健康和儿科。第三，强有力的方法论核心可以帮助学生进行学科学习。这些包括统计学;人口统计学;基础生物学;遗传学;情绪/行为/药物滥用;健康差异;临床;和科学写作。第四，最大限度地提高流行病学系的优质教育一直是Ness博士主席的主要重点，Ness博士是该RPP计划的首席研究员。我们描述了许多正在进行的举措，使匹兹堡一个强大的培训环境。第五，我们的教师在领导NIH资助的培训计划的丰富经验将告知RPP计划。第六，我们将利用优秀的基础设施来招募和留住代表性不足的少数民族学生。最后，迫切需要未来的研究人员在RPP流行病学和匹兹堡大学的环境的一个突出方面涉及跨学科的知识整合在一个快速发展的研究环境。下一代的RPP流行病学研究将需要一个负责任的，受过适当培训的研究人员，他们既有关键联系的基础科学和临床学科的知识，又有与RPP流行病学相关的流行病学和生物统计学方法的基本技能。在匹兹堡大学，优秀的潜在学生，教学经验和指导的结合将最大限度地提高在RPP流行病学产生未来领导者的可能性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neonatal and childhood diseases can be debilitating and even deadly outcomes of insults induced during the reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric (RPP) periods. The best hope for combating these diseases is to enhance the cadre of researchers invested in better understanding the pattern, risk factors, and interventions that might improve RPP health. The overall objective of this RPP Epidemiology Training Program is to train five pre-doctoral students per year over a grant period of five years. We will identify highly qualified applicants, with a focus on minority trainees, and provide them with rigorous and practical training in the basic foundations and methodologic tools requisite to become emerging leaders in RPP epidemiology. The University of Pittsburgh has many strengths that ensure our success in realizing this goal. First, the RPP Program will draw faculty from our pre-existing strong and flexible collaborations among the departments of Epidemiology; Environmental Health; Human Genetics; Behavioral and Community Health Sciences; Obsetrics and Gynecology; Pediatrics; Psychiatry; Immunology; Cell Biology and Physiology; School of Nursing, and School of Dental Medicine. Second, the many, federally funded studies led by our faculty provide a wealth of existing vehicles for dissertation research in areas including: preterm birth; preeclampsia, infertility and sexually transmitted diseases, spontaneous abortion, lifespan approach, mood disorders, substance abuse, injury, nutrition and obesity, environmental health, adolescent health, and pediatrics. Third, strong methodologic Cores are available to ground students in disciplinary learning. These include statistics; demography; basic biology; genetics; mood/behavior/substance abuse; health disparities; clinical; and scientific writing. Fourth, maximizing quality education in the Department of Epidemiology has been a major focus of the chairmanship of Dr. Ness, the Principal investigator of this RPP Program. We describe the many, ongoing initiatives that have made Pittsburgh a strong training environment. Fifth, our faculty's extensive experience in leading NIH-funded training programs will inform the RPP Program. Sixth, we will leverage an outstanding infrastructure for recruiting and retaining under-represented minority students. Finally, a pressing need for future researchers in RPP epidemiology and an outstanding aspect of the environment at the University of Pittsburgh involves integrating knowledge across disciplines in a rapidly evolving research environment. The next generation of RPP epidemiologic research will require a cadre of responsible, appropriately trained investigators who have both knowledge of critically linked basic science and clinical disciplines and fundamental skills in epidemiologic and biostatistical methods related to RPP epidemiology. At the University of Pittsburgh, the combination of outstanding potential students, didactic experiences, and mentorship will maximize the likelihood of producing future leaders in RPP epidemiology.