# Biostatistics, Epidemiologic, and Bioinformatic Training in Environmental Health (BEBTEH)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $750,483

## Abstract

7. Project Summary/Abstract
The University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences,
with the collaboration of faculty from the Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology,
proposes to train biostatisticians and life scientists to develop and apply quantitative methods to
the environmental health sciences in this continuation of BEBTEH: the "Biostatistics,
Epidemiologic and Bioinformatic Training in Environmental Health" training grant. Our long-term
goal is to develop pre- and postdoctoral trainees into successful independent scientists who will
advance environmental health science and improve health for future generations. BEBTEH has
two pathways: one population-based and one laboratory-based. The population-based pathway
emphasizes statistical methods in environmental epidemiology to elucidate the etiologies of
environmentally-related diseases. The laboratory-based pathway focuses on the interpretation
of modern genomic, microbiome, and other biologic data and how they may be exploited to
unravel the biological bases of diseases. Both pathways foster a multidisciplinary, collaborative,
and interdisciplinary training environment that (1) includes quantitative and applied training
objectives, (2) assigns a quantitative and a scientific mentor to each trainee, (3) involves each
trainee in a project that leads to expertise in multiple disciplines necessary to advance
environmental health science research, (4) recruits trainees with differing backgrounds to
enhance cross-training, and (5) targets training activities to enhance training goals. We propose
to continue and improve upon BEBTEH’s training of 8 pre-doctoral and 4 post-doctoral trainees,
funded since 2009, by fine-tuning its alignment with the 2018 NIEHS Strategic Plan. BEBTEH is
directed by Dr. Elizabeth A. (Lianne) Sheppard and is overseen by an Advisory Committee of
four additional program mentors representing all aspects of the program. BEBTEH has close
ties with multiple NIEHS- and sister agency-funded research centers and projects, thus
providing trainees with access to a first class research environment. As is apparent in its first
nine years of funding, BEBTEH’s training track record is strong with many trainees in faculty
positions and continuing to conduct environmental health sciences research. The program
contributes to NIEHS’s vision through its focus on quantitative training for the next generation of
environmental health science leaders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10178020
- **Project number:** 5T32ES015459-13
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth A Lianne Sheppard
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $750,483
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10178020

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10178020, Biostatistics, Epidemiologic, and Bioinformatic Training in Environmental Health (BEBTEH) (5T32ES015459-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10178020. Licensed CC0.

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