Training in Advanced Data Analytics to End Drug-Related Harms (TADA)

Emory University, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Substance-related harms are among the defining public health crises of the 21st century US. To illustrate, overdose deaths contributed to declines in life expectancy in recent years, resulting in 7 million years of life lost in the US alone between 2017-2019. Unfortunately, siloed research and training approaches are hindering efforts to end these crises: though the universe of “Big Data” (e.g., administrative data, social media data, geospatial data) has transformative potential to generate high-impact epidemiologic evidence and interventions, social and behavioral scientists are not trained in the data science methods required to analyze these data. Likewise, computer and data scientists lack training in key social and behavioral science (SBS) approaches that support rigor and translation (e.g., validity, social science theory, community engagement). The TADA (Training in Advanced Data Analytics to End Drug-Related Harms) T32 pre-doctoral training program at Emory University is designed to train the next generation of scientists to integrate rigorous and ethical data science approaches and SBS approaches to generate robust, actionable evidence about distributions, determinants, and prevention of substance-related harms, overall and across and within key subpopulations. This application is a competitive renewal for Years 6-10 to support cohorts of 6 trainees for 3-years each. TADA’s inaugural cycle is already realizing this vital mission. Trainees are generating robust, actionable evidence, publishing a median of 5.5 papers per trainee (2 first authored); one was included by the CDC in a congressional report. Our 6 PhD alumni are in TADA-aligned research careers. In this competitive renewal, TADA will draw on the strengths and evaluation findings of our inaugural cycle to develop a cadre of researchers who integrate SBS approaches with data science approaches to ethically and rigorously combat 21st century substance-related crises, overall and across and within key subpopulations. This generative integration is evident across all TADA components, from our trainee cohorts, which will intentionally enroll doctoral students in both SBS and data science departments; to our MPIs, who represent SBS and data science departments; to our outstanding 34 Program Faculty, collectively supported by $20.9 M in grant funds ($607K per capita); to the compositions of our mentoring teams and advisory bodies. Drawing on this robust infrastructure, TADA offers a host of learning opportunities to support trainee success. Novel courses created by TADA are complemented by an array of applied activities, including mentored research experiences with Emory faculty mentors and career development opportunities tailored to trainee’s individualized goals. This dynamic integration of SBS and data science rests on a foundation of training in ethics, community engagement, effective communication, and team science, and is embedded in Emory University’s rich institutional environment, including an array of salient NIH- and CDC-funded Centers.