# Training Program in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

> **NIH NIH T32** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2021 · $387,765

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The aim of our interdisciplinary Institutional Training Program, based at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
(CHOP) and The University of Pennsylvania (Penn), is to train MD and PhD post-doctoral fellows in research
focused on Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD). The rationale for this NDD T32 program is three-fold. First,
~10% of households in the United States live with an individual with a neurodevelopmental disability; thus,
these disorders are a significant financial and emotional burden in our society. Second, the causes of
neurodevelopmental disability range from genetic to acquired insults; this necessitates an interdisciplinary
approach. Finally, there is substantial overlap of symptoms amongst the various neurodevelopmental disorders,
suggesting overlapping mechanisms. Trainees and their mentors use state-of-the-art techniques, including
genetic, cellular/molecular, behavioral, and structural/dynamic imaging to pursue basic and translational
research related to these disorders. Twenty-seven mentors help support the careers of the trainees. There is a
high degree of collaboration among the mentors and trainees with shared publications and grants. In addition
to mentored research training, our curriculum emphasizes: 1) a clinical practicum requirement for both MDs
and PhDs, 2) formal course work through Penn Graduate Studies Program, 3) training in responsible conduct
of research, 4) training in biostatistics and rigor and reproducibility, 5) grants club, and 6) forums that teach a
variety of important survival skills, including scientific writing, public presentations, grant writing, laboratory
management, mentoring skills, and becoming knowledgeable about career options. During the first 19 years of
the NDD T32 program, we have enrolled 46 trainees; 5 are MDs, 4 are MD/PhDs, and 37 are PhDs. Thirty-two
(69%) of these trainees are female and 10 (22%) of these trainees are from under-represented minority groups.
Thirty-three different NDD T32 mentors have supervised trainees. Of the 36 who have completed training, 16
are in faculty positions, 2 are in instructor positions, 4 are senior research scientists at pharmaceutical
companies, 3 are scientific administrators, 2 work in Clinical Genomics, 4 are in clinical practice, 1 is a lecturer,
and 3 are senior scientists in academia. We request continued support for 6 postdoctoral fellows/year who
participate in a program that is designed to be 3 years in length. This number of trainees allows us to maintain
a critical mass to support a diverse trainee pool that can learn from one another and is easily justified by the
large number of outstanding trainees who seek admission. This NDD T32 program continuously evolves. A
Grants Club and closer monitoring a trainee progress were implemented in the most recent funding period; a
new workshop focused on techniques with a focus on rigor/reproducibility will start in the Fall of 2017. This
program combines the outstandi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10200892
- **Project number:** 5T32NS007413-24
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** AMELIA J EISCH
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $387,765
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1998-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10200892

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10200892, Training Program in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (5T32NS007413-24). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10200892. Licensed CC0.

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