Research Training in the Epidemiology of Aging

摘要 随着全球老年人数量的增加，科学家和临床医生在老龄化研究中的需求是 比以往任何时候都更迫切需要对影响健康的疾病和残疾进行跨学科研究 老年人口更加多样化。这一成功培训计划26-30年的目标是继续 培训5名博士后和4名博士后研究员，开展独立和创新的原创研究 老龄化流行病学，重点是预防晚年残疾和功能衰退以及 最大限度地发挥现有残障和残障人士的功能。该节目强调 项目教师在四个广泛的实质性领域拥有老年学研究经验，并 开展正在进行的项目：肌肉骨骼流行病学；神经流行病学；遗传流行病学和 基因组学；和药物流行病学。 该计划为受训人员做好准备，使他们能够：1)参加一个由 老年流行病学初级导师专家和流行病学方法二级导师专家 和/或与学员研究相关的生物统计学、老年学和内容领域；2)开展研究 提出问题，阐明假设，设计并执行流行病学研究；3)成为某方面的专家 与预防残疾和功能衰退有关的实质性领域；4)在 进行独立、创新的研究；5)在展示研究结果方面积累经验，使用 书面、视觉和口头形式；6)整合流行病学、老年学和生物统计学的核心课程； 7)掌握负责任的研究行为以及科学严谨性和可重复性的原则；8)适用 临床范围内衰老方法的流行病学；以及9)为过渡到研究做准备 在学术界、政府、行业或非营利性部门工作，并具备老龄化流行病学方面的能力。 该计划位于加州大学流行病学和公共卫生系(EPH)内 马里兰医学院。主要课程优势包括：1)老龄化流行病学专家教师， 老年学、生物统计学和其他实质性领域；2)跨学科培训和研究机会 在老龄化及相关领域；3)研究生培训机会，包括通过四个 支持博士项目；4)增加临床医生科学家的培训；5)致力于促进包容性 培训；以及6)能够利用巴尔的摩/华盛顿走廊来利用多个 领域(学术界、政府、行业和非营利组织)。高素质的师资和丰富的培训 我们计划的环境非常适合提供这种跨学科的方法，以培训 致力于老龄化流行病学的下一代学者找到所需的解决方案 提高老年人的生活质量。MPI带来了对成功至关重要的补充专业知识 每个人在跨学科研究、教育和指导方面都有20多年的经验。

Abstract As the number of older people increases worldwide, the need for scientists and clinicians in aging research is greater than ever with a critical need for interdisciplinary research on diseases and disabilities that affect a more diverse older population. The objective of years 26-30 of this successful training program is to continue training 5 pre- and 4 post-doctoral fellows to conduct independent and innovative original research in the epidemiology of aging, with an emphasis on the prevention of late life disability and functional decline and the maximization of function in those with existing disabilities and disabling conditions. 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 genomics; and pharmacoepidemiology. The program prepares trainees to: 1) participate in an interdisciplinary research team under supervision of a primary mentor expert in the epidemiology of aging and secondary mentors expert in epidemiology methods and/or biostatistics, gerontology, and content areas relevant to trainee research; 2) develop a research question, articulate hypotheses, and design and perform an epidemiologic study; 3) become expert in one substantive area relevant to the prevention of disability and functional decline; 4) demonstrate excellence in the conduct of independent, innovative research; 5) gain experience in the presentation of research results, using written, visual, and oral formats; 6) integrate a core curriculum in epidemiology, gerontology, and biostatistics; 7) master the principles of responsible conduct of research and scientific rigor and reproducibility; 8) apply epidemiology of aging methods within clinical contexts; and 9) be prepared for the transition to a research career in academia, government, industry, or non-profit sector using capabilities 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 program strengths include: 1) expert faculty in epidemiology of aging, gerontology, biostatistics, and other substantive areas; 2) interdisciplinary training and research opportunities in aging and related areas; 3) graduate training opportunities including advanced coursework through the four supporting doctoral programs; 4) increased training of clinician scientists; 5) commitment to fostering inclusive training; and 6) ability to capitalize on Baltimore/Washington corridor to leverage resources across multiple domains (academia, government, industry, and non-profit). The highly qualified faculty and rich training environment of our program are uniquely suited to provide this interdisciplinary approach needed to train the next generation of scholars with a commitment to epidemiology of aging to find the solutions required to improve the quality of life for older persons. The MPIs bring complementary expertise essential to the success of the program; each has over 20 years of experience in interdisciplinary research, education, and mentorship.