Obesity & Gastrointestinal Surgery Research Training Program

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PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT Overview: Obesity and gastrointestinal diseases are among the most common indications for surgery (e.g., bariatric surgery, gastroesophageal reflux, hernias, diverticulitis, etc…). However, there are considerably fewer scientists studying these topics compared to other clinical areas (e.g., surgical oncology, vascular surgery, transplantation), particularly among surgeon-scientists. This T32 grant, “Obesity & Gastrointestinal Surgery Scientist Training Program” will integrate all aspects of obesity and gastrointestinal surgery research at the University of Michigan – from “bench to beside, and practice to policy”— allowing us to address fundamental questions in a multidisciplinary way1–7. This program will improve surgical research by integrating these various scientific disciplines to produce significant cross-fertilization among scientists, clinicians, and health service investigators on this critical topic. Enhanced training will increase the number of surgical investigators using sophisticated approaches to these large-scale problems associated with surgical approaches to treat obesity and gastrointestinal diseases. The University of Michigan is in a unique position to conduct post-doctoral T32 training program in obesity & gastrointestinal surgery that includes both basic mechanistic science and clinical outcomes research. In additional to our existing strengths in obesity, metabolism, and outcomes research, much of this work led by Randy Seeley, PhD, we believe the University of Michigan has an unprecedented critical mass of scientists focusing on the intersection of obesity with gastrointestinal surgery. Moreover, the University of Michigan is a national center of excellence in surgical outcomes and health services research with a robust profile of work funded by NIH, AHRQ and PCORI. Justin B. Dimick, MD, MPH, the chair of the Department of Surgery, leads this area of excellence, which includes the Center for Healthcare Outcomes & Policy, the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative (MBSC), and the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC), statewide clinical data registry and quality improvement programs focused on obesity and gastrointestinal surgery, respectively. There are numerous scientific training programs that focus on research on obesity and gastrointestinal diseases. However, there are no programs specifically dedicated to preparing scientists and surgeon-scientists for a career dedicated to studying surgery for obesity and gastrointestinal surgery, and the intersection of these two important disease areas. Although this proposal will train both surgeon- scientists and non-surgeon scientists (i.e., PhDs and non-surgery clinician scientists), there is an acute need for more surgeon scientists in these fields. It is important to have scientifically trained surgeons who can ask important questions and conduct meaningful research. Specifically, more obesity & gastrointestinal surgery scientists are needed for the following: Provide more intellectual horsepower and research creativity; Provide the specialty- specific clinical expertise to steer research; To establish thought leaders who can ultimately effect change within surgery.