# Translational Research Training Program in Environmental Health Sciences

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $427,755

## Abstract

This application is the first competing continuation of a T32 Institutional Training Grant in Environmental Health
Sciences (EHS) entitled: “Translational Research Training Program in EHS” (T32-ES019851) at the
University of Pennsylvania (Penn). This training grant is the only dedicated mechanism to support formalized
EHS research training at the pre- and post-doctoral level at Penn and meets a significant need based on
trainee interest in the environment and its health impact and biomedical work force need. The mission of the
T32 Training Program is to train the next generation of environmental health scientists in the
mechanisms by which environmental exposures cause disease and to translate these findings into
effective prevention and treatment and improvements in public health. The training program emphasizes
the four pillars of translational research, bench, bedside, community and policy. The research training reflects
the translational research themes of Penn's P30 Environmental Health Sciences Core Center, the Center of
Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET). These themes have been dictated by the incidence of
disease that have environmental etiology that affect the Philadelphia region, the physical location of Penn.
Training is provided through course work from the Certificate Program in EHS which includes an optional
Community Environmental Health Rotation, by conducting a full-time translational research project co-
mentored where possible by a basic-scientist and clinician scientist to generate new knowledge in EHS. The
42 distinguished training grant faculty come from Penn and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and 14 are
clinician scientists. The training grant supports common elements including a research club, a dedicated
seminar series, an annual symposium dedicated to a translational research theme and optional externships at
US EPA, ATSDR and the Silent Spring Institute for trainees interested in policy and human health assessment.
The T32 award currently supports three predoctoral fellows to conduct dissertation research on an EHS topic
and four postdoctoral fellows to perform mentored EHS research. Predoctoral trainees are supported for a total
of three years (2nd year completion of the Certificate Program in EHS and two years dissertation research) and
postdoctoral trainees are supported for up to two years. Trainees will be prepared for a suite of careers in the
employment sector e.g. academia (in EHS, Pharmacology and Toxicology), government agencies (e.g. US-
EPA, CDC, FDA, NTP, NIEHS); and industry (drug, food, cosmetic and nanotechnology). Fifteen trainees
were supported in the first four years of this training program and published 41 papers; all the postdoctoral
fellows that have left the program have assumed faculty positions. In the next cycle of funding we request an
identical number of predoctoral (3) and postdoctoral slots (4).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176487
- **Project number:** 5T32ES019851-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Trevor M Penning
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $427,755
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176487

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176487, Translational Research Training Program in Environmental Health Sciences (5T32ES019851-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176487. Licensed CC0.

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