CHOP Institutional Training in Pediatric Research

Children'S Hosp Of Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Abstract This application seeks to renew an NICHD-sponsored National Research Service Award T32 that supports fellowship training in the Department of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). A continuous commitment to pediatric research is necessary to ensure advances in the health of children, adolescents, and young adults. Establishing and maintaining a nurturing environment for pediatric subspecialty trainees to evolve into independent scientists is the foundation of our institution’s commitment to making advances in pediatric research. The long-term objective of our NRSA-T32 program is to provide an environment that promotes the maturation of pediatric subspecialty trainees into rigorous independent investigators who are addressing important questions relevant to the health and well-being of the pediatric population. The program leverages the robust research and training resources at CHOP and Penn, including a core of accomplished faculty mentors in the Department of Pediatrics and other departments at CHOP who are performing rigorous science in areas germane to pediatrics, have a strong record of successful mentoring and collaboration, and have a strong record of extramural funding. Four trainees will be supported each year and will be drawn from subspecialty fellows in the Department of Pediatrics, with particular emphasis on recruitment of women, underrepresented in medicine minorities, individuals with disabilities, and other disadvantaged individuals. Trainees will typically receive support for two years of investigation and will emphasize the application of basic and translational science techniques, rigorous clinical and epidemiologic methods, novel approaches to community science, and application of contemporary methods for health equity research. Collectively, these approaches will serve to improve our understanding of pediatric diseases and to develop new and effective preventative and therapeutic interventions that optimize the health of children. Trainees will have access to the full array of research centers and cores at CHOP and Penn and will also benefit from extensive educational activities at CHOP and Penn, including a robust infrastructure for responsible conduct of research, master degree programs, certificate programs, and a range of seminars, among other research related resources. The Principal Investigator/Program Director, Training Director, and Associate Training Director will receive assistance from an advisory committee that includes internal research leaders, external research leaders, and diversity recruitment officers and that plays a key role in selecting trainees, monitoring the scholarly progress of trainees, and ensuring optimal operation of the program. The renewal of this T32 program will continue the tradition established during the past 22 years, capitalizing on the tremendous strengths of CHOP and Penn, with outstanding subspecialty fellows, accomplished mentors, and numerous cutting edge research programs.