Predoctoral Training Program in Reproductive, Perinatal & Pediatric Epidemiology

描述（由申请人提供）：在生殖、围产期和儿科（RPP）期间，新生儿和儿童疾病可能使人衰弱，甚至致命。抗击这些疾病的最大希望是加强研究人员队伍，以便更好地了解可能改善RPP健康的模式、风险因素和干预措施。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，使他们掌握成为RPP流行病学新兴领导者所必需的基本基础和方法工具。匹兹堡大学有许多优势，确保我们成功实现这一目标。首先，RPP项目将从我们现有的流行病学部门之间强大而灵活的合作中汲取师资力量；环境卫生;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;细胞生物学与生理学；护理学院和口腔医学院。其次，由我们的教师领导的许多联邦资助的研究为论文研究提供了丰富的现有工具，包括：早产；先兆子痫、不孕症和性传播疾病、自然流产、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，强大的方法论核心可用于基础学生的学科学习。这包括统计数据；人口统计学的;基本生物学;遗传学;情绪/行为/药物滥用;健康差异;临床;还有科学写作。第四，最大限度地提高流行病学系的质量教育一直是该RPP项目首席研究员Ness博士主席的主要关注点。我们描述了许多正在进行的举措，这些举措使匹兹堡成为一个强大的培训环境。第五，我们的教师在领导美国国立卫生研究院资助的培训项目方面的丰富经验将为RPP项目提供信息。第六，我们将利用优秀的基础设施来招收和留住代表性不足的少数民族学生。最后，在快速发展的研究环境中整合跨学科知识是匹兹堡大学未来RPP流行病学研究人员的迫切需求和环境的一个突出方面。下一代RPP流行病学研究将需要一批负责任的、受过适当训练的调查人员，他们既具有与RPP流行病学相关的关键基础科学和临床学科的知识，又具有与RPP流行病学相关的流行病学和生物统计方法的基本技能。在匹兹堡大学，优秀的潜在学生、教学经验和指导相结合，将最大限度地提高培养RPP流行病学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.