Training Program in Gerontological and Geriatric Medicine

描述(申请人提供)：我们的T32(5T32AG033534)的首次申请(通过ARRA)获得了为期两年(5/1/09-4/30/11)的资助。这项提议是为了延续这一成功的计划，续展5年，允许寻求在临床老年学/老年研究领域接受培训的新科学家继续提供支持。作为一名新的T32获奖者，我们已经能够利用这一正式称号及其资源，以及强有力的机构支持和基础设施，来扩大我们以前的培训记录 来自老年学研究中多个学科的新研究人员。目前有总计910万美元(直接)的资助组合授予老年学教员，近3200万美元(直接)的研究资金可用于所有斯蒂希特老龄中心的教职员工，我们 拥有科学专业知识和可用的资源深度，以继续吸引和培训 该领域的下一代研究人员。目前，缺乏具有适当研究技能的有能力的调查人员，他们接受过培训，并对在老年人身上进行临床研究感兴趣，这些研究检查导致残疾和丧失独立性的重要老年结果。因此，我们老年学和老年学研究培训计划的总体目标是提供一条综合的职业发展道路，以培训博士研究员进行以预防残疾为重点的临床研究所需的技能和能力。我们建议每年招募1名新研究员(每年支持2名受训人员)参加为期两年的培训计划，重点是获得开展临床老年研究所需的特定研究方法和技能方面的经验和培训。这种方法是对我们其他培训计划的补充，并与我们现有的胡椒中心(专注于身体功能)和我们的捐赠库林奇中心(专注于认知功能)的科学主题完美结合。从培训中脱颖而出的学者将对导致衰老相关残疾的途径有科学的了解，具备在老年人中进行随机临床试验和/或纵向队列研究所需的总体能力，在测量认知和/或身体残疾结果方面的经验和专业知识，以及符合其个人兴趣的具体技术或方法技能，使他们能够成功过渡到早期教师职位，并在开始教师培训奖项方面具有极强的竞争力，以继续他们走向独立的道路。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The initial application of our T32 (5T32AG033534) was funded (via ARRA) for two years (5/1/09- 4/30/11). This proposal is for a 5-year renewal to provide continuity of this successful program, allowing for continued support of new scientists seeking training in the field of clinical gerontology/geriatric research. As a new T32 awardee, we have been able to capitalize on this formal designation and its resources, along with strong institutional support and infrastructure, to expand our previous track record of training promising new investigators from a myriad of disciplines in geriatric research. With a current portfolio of funded grants totaling $9.1 million (direct) awarded to Section on Gerontology faculty, and nearly $32 million (direct) in research funding available to all Sticht Center on Aging faculty, we have the scientific expertise and the depth of resources available to continue to attract and train the next generation of researchers in the field. Currently, there is a dearth of competent investigators with appropriate research skills who are trained and interested in the conduct of clinical research in elderly adults that examines important geriatric outcomes leading to disabilit and loss of independence. Thus, the overall goal of our Training Program in Gerontological and Geriatric Research is to provide for an integrated career development pathway centered on training PhD fellows in the skills and competencies necessary to conduct clinical research with a focus on the prevention of disability. We propose to recruit 1 new investigator per year (2 trainees supported per year) into a two-year training program focused on obtaining experience and training in a specific research methodology and skill set necessary to conduct clinical geriatric research. This approach complements our other training programs and integrates perfectly with the scientific themes of our existing Pepper Center, which is focused on physical function, and our endowed Kulynych Center, which is focused on cognitive function. Scholars will emerge from the training with a scientific understanding of the pathways leading to aging-related disability, with overall competencies needed to conduct randomized clinical trials and/or longitudinal cohort studies in the elderly, experience and expertise in the measurement of cognitive and/or physical disability outcomes, and with a specific technical or methodological skill in line with their individual interests, placing them in a position to transition successfull to an early-stage faculty position and to be highly competitive for beginning faculty training awards to continue their path towards independence.