Mentoring Behavioral Scientists for Career Development in Pediatric T1D Research

描述(申请人提供)：针对RFA-DK-028“行为科学家糖尿病研究中的职业发展计划(K12)”，鉴于目前在1型糖尿病(T1D)研究中缺乏指导年轻研究人员的资深行为科学家，加上贝勒医学院(BCM)在儿科学方面无与伦比的教职员工、研究和患者资源，我们热情地提交这项建议，以指导BCM儿科1型糖尿病(T1D)研究中的行为科学家的职业发展。这一职业发展计划的目的是为博士后和职业生涯早期的行为调查人员[“学者”]创建一个跨学科和基于证据的计划。我们建议为3名学者(两名博士后水平和一名职业生涯早期水平)提供一个初始计划，他们将在T1D行为研究方面获得2至3年的全面指导职业发展经验。该计划围绕三个目标建立：1)学者必须了解T1D对年轻人和家庭的“生活经验”，以促进临床知情的行为研究；2)学者将了解T1D的神经生物学，血糖波动与行为之间的密切相互作用，以及神经认知风险和弹性因素如何影响行为、执行功能和坚持性；以及3)学者将展示基本的拨款撰写技能。该计划要求掌握T1D神经生物学的核心教学知识和健康行为改变的理论/方法。根据Scholars先前的培训，被映射到教学中的是在附近杰出的学术机构--德克萨斯大学公共卫生学院和休斯顿大学--学习高级课程的机会。资深行为科学家和资深儿科内分泌学家团队将在以下三个研究途径中的一个向学者提供指导：1)神经心理学和风险因素筛查；2)基于家庭和系统的干预措施，以优化血糖控制、依从性和生活质量，重点针对患有T1D的过渡年龄青年；以及3)基于技术的互动式干预措施，以提高患者的依从性和血糖控制。一个由贝勒高级教师组成的咨询委员会将评估该计划，并根据既定的基准监测个别学者的进展情况。一个由资深科学家组成的外部咨询委员会也将提供反馈。我们的长期目标是创建一个国家认可的项目，培养出在T1D行为研究方面拥有成功和有资金支持的职业生涯的科学家，他们最终将处于有利地位，能够在行为糖尿病研究中继承这一指导遗产。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In response to RFA-DK-028 "Career Development Programs in Diabetes Research for Behavioral Scientists (K12)" and given that currently there is a documented lack of senior behavioral scientists in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research to mentor younger investigators, combined with the unparalleled faculty, research, and patient resources in Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), we enthusiastically submit this proposal for Mentoring Behavioral Scientists for Career Development in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Research at BCM. The purpose of this career development program is to create an interdisciplinary and evidence-based program for postdoctoral and early-career behavioral investigators ["Scholars"]. We propose an initial program for 3 Scholars (two postdoctoral level and one early career level) who will receive a 2-to 3-year comprehensive, didactic mentored career development experience in T1D behavioral research. The program is built around three objectives: 1) Scholars must understand the 'lived experience' of T1D for youth and families to foster clinically-informed behavioral research; 2) Scholars will understand the neuro-biology of T1D, the close interplay between blood glucose fluctuations and behavior, and how neurocognitive risk and resilience factors impact behavior, executive functioning, and adherence; and 3) Scholars will demonstrate basic grant writing skills. The program requires mastery of core didactics in neuro-biology of T1D and theories/methods of health behavior change. Depending on Scholars' prior training, mapped on to the didactics are opportunities for advanced courses at outstanding academic institutions nearby--the University of Texas School of Public Health and the University of Houston. Scholars will be mentored by a team of senior behavioral scientist and senior pediatric endocrinologist in 1 of 3 research pathways: 1) neuropsychology and risk-factor screening; 2) family- and systems-based interventions to optimize glycemic control, adherence and quality of life outcomes with a focus on transition-age youth with T1D; and 3) interactive technology-based interventions to improve adherence and glycemic control. An Advisory Committee of Senior Baylor faculty will evaluate the program and monitor the progress of the individual Scholars against established benchmarks. An External Advisory Board of senior scientists will also provide feedback. Our long-term goal is to create a nationally-recognized program that produces scientists with successful and funded careers in T1D behavioral research, who will eventually be well-positioned to carry on this legacy of mentoring in behavioral diabetes research.