Research Training in the Epidemiology of Aging

描述（由申请人提供）：美国人口老龄化突出表明，需要增加对影响老年人的疾病和残疾的研究。该项目旨在培养在老年流行病学方面进行独立和原创性研究的博士生，重点是预防老年残疾和功能衰退。该计划强调四个广泛的实质性领域，其中计划教师具有老年学研究经验并正在进行项目：肌肉骨骼流行病学；神经;遗传流行病学;还有药物流行病学。该培训计划旨在使学员能够：1)在老年流行病学的一级导师专家和流行病学方法和/或生物统计学的二级导师专家的监督下，为研究团队做出贡献；2)提出一个研究问题，阐明研究假设，并设计和执行一项流行病学研究来解决这些假设；3)成为至少一个与预防老年人残疾和功能衰退相关的实质性领域的专家；4）

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aging of the United States population is highlighted by the need for increased research on diseases and disabilities that affect older persons. The objective of this program is to train pre- and post-doctoral students to conduct independent and original research in the epidemiology of aging, with an emphasis on the prevention of late life disability and functional decline. The program emphasizes four broad substantive areas in which program faculty have gerontologic research experience and are conducting ongoing projects: musculoskeletal epidemiology; neuroepidemiology; genetic epidemiology; and the pharmacoepidemiology. The training program is designed to enable trainees to: 1) contribute to a research team under the supervision of a primary mentor expert in the epidemiology of aging and a secondary mentor expert in epidemiology methods and/or biostatistics; 2) develop a research question, articulate study hypotheses, and design and perform an epidemiologic study to address these hypotheses; 3) become expert in at least one substantive area relevant to the prevention of disability and functional decline in the elderly; 4) demonstrate the capacity to conduct independent, original research; 5) have experience in the presentation of research results; 6) have mastered a core curriculum in epidemiology and biostatistics; 7) be knowledgeable about the basic biological and psychosocial processes of aging; 8) master the principles of responsible conduct of research; and 9) be prepared for the transition to a career in the epidemiology of aging. The program is located within the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Major strengths of the training program include: 1) the availability of experienced mentors in substantive areas of aging research, as well as epidemiology and biostatistics; 2) many interdisciplinary training and research opportunities in aging and related areas; and 3) graduate training opportunities through the Doctoral Programs in Epidemiology and Human Genetics, Gerontology, Physical Rehabilitation Science, and Pharmaceutical Health Services Research. The program director is recognized for his leadership nationally and within the UM System; as such, he is in an excellent position to foster the development of trainees through participation in interdisciplinary research programs locally and nationally.