# WUSTL Transdisciplinary Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Program in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

> **NIH NIH T32** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $522,450

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The complexities of biological, behavioral, social, and environmental risk factors for obesity and cardiovascular
disease (CVD) necessitate team science, capable of crossing the boundaries of disciplinary-specific silos to
conduct and evaluate research from a transdisciplinary approach to prevent and treat obesity and CVD across
the lifespan. Efforts to facilitate greater collaboration among scientists trained across many fields and levels of
training are not only valuable but also essential to solving such complex problems. Thus, we propose to continue
an innovative, transdisciplinary pre- and postdoctoral training program in obesity and CVD at Washington
University in St. Louis (WUSTL). WUSTL is an excellent research institution promoting transdisciplinary,
translational research through its unique, collegial, scientific environment across campuses and departments.
This program: 1) recruits and trains talented transdisciplinary pre- and postdoctoral trainees; 2) provides trainees
with collaborative, transdisciplinary mentorship teams; 3) targets diversity in the future scientific workforce; and
4) provides training in the ethical and socially responsible conduct of obesity/CVD research. International
authorities on obesity, Denise Wilfley, PhD (Director) and Samuel Klein, MD (Co-Director), lead the program,
supported by highly- qualified, primary and co-mentors spanning 12 departments in the biomedical, cognitive and
behavioral, and population health sciences. Our mentors are well-funded and have strong collaborative ties to
facilitate the training of 4 pre- and 4 postdoctoral trainees each year. Combining pre- and postdoctoral trainees
from diverse backgrounds (e.g., genetics, molecular cell biology, psychology, social work, public heath, and
neurosciences) has created and will continue to create a uniquely dynamic training environment. The WUSTL
Nutrition Obesity Research Center, Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Institute for Public Health,
and Center for Diabetes Translation Research provide infrastructure and state-of-the-art resources to support
trainees' engagement in transformative, translational science. Program evaluations completed by trainees,
program administration, and collaborative mentorship teams ensure trainees achieve short- and long-term
indicators of productivity positioning them for success in obtaining academic positions and independent grants.
Indeed, postdoctoral graduates of the program have been highly successful in obtaining academic positions
and grant funding, and in the case of our predoctoral trainees, continuing their research training in prestigious
positions. The Diversity Advisory Committee informs our approach in the recruitment and retention of highly
qualified trainees from diverse backgrounds. Not only is our training program innovative in its design, but
using a team science approach guided by stellar mentors, our trainees are prepared to create and
contribute to ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10089746
- **Project number:** 2T32HL130357-06
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Denise Ella Wilfley
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $522,450
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10089746

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10089746, WUSTL Transdisciplinary Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Program in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease (2T32HL130357-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10089746. Licensed CC0.

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