# Biobehavioral Research Training Program in Symptom Science

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $95,230

## Abstract

Project Summary
The science underlying symptom etiology, the symptom experience, and symptom management
has advanced substantially over the last few decades. Yet little is known about the biobehavioral
underpinnings of many symptoms or the ways in which biological and behavioral factors interact
during the symptom experience. Even less is known about symptom management strategies
that can effectively target both biological and behavioral components of the symptom response.
Genomics represents an essential focus for the advancement of biobehavioral symptom science
and for provision of nursing care that is individualized to the precise needs of patients. There
has been growing recognition of the critical role that genomics will play in enabling effective
assessment and management of symptoms. The purpose of this supplement is to prepare two
predoctoral nursing students to conduct genomic research in symptom science, and to augment
the genomics content in an existing training program that is preparing nurse scientists for
biobehavioral research careers in symptom science. Upon completion of the program, trainees
will have the knowledge and skills necessary to: 1) design and conduct genomic research on
symptoms and health-related outcomes, 2) employ multi-method, genomic approaches to the
study of symptoms and the testing of symptom management strategies, and 3) translate
genomic research findings into recommendations for symptom prevention, assessment and
management. The predoctoral curriculum includes standard PhD requirements at UCSF School
of Nursing, 3 symptom-specific courses, 4 courses addressing genomics (candidate gene
analysis, analysis and interpretation of gene expression data, use of non-invasive biospecimens
for analysis of DNA markers, ethical considerations in genomic and genetic research), and a
research residency in a genomics laboratory. The interdisciplinary faculty group has significant
expertise in genomics and symptom science, including six faculty in the School of Nursing and
six affiliated faculty from the School of Medicine at UCSF. Preparing nurse scholars to advance
symptom science through rigorous research training in genomic research is essential for
improved understanding of the symptom experience and better management of symptoms by
patients and clinicians. The UCSF School of Nursing is in a unique position to provide genomic
training in symptom science because of its strong research programs in the field, its history of
successful research training, and its ongoing collaboration with other Departments, Centers and
Institutes at UCSF that are involved in both genomic and symptom-related research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10166235
- **Project number:** 3T32NR016920-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTINE A. MIASKOWSKI
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $95,230
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10166235

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10166235, Biobehavioral Research Training Program in Symptom Science (3T32NR016920-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10166235. Licensed CC0.

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