# LA’s Biostatistics and Data Science Training Program (LA’s BeST)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2023 · $250,710

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Health disparities in our nation are acute, increasing, and known to be caused by many factors. A multi-
faceted approach by multi-disciplinary teams of scientists is needed to properly tackle this chronic and
growing problem. Increasing the diversity of biomedical research scientists is one key strategy to
address this crisis. With the current deluge of health-related data and a projected 34% growth in the
job market for statisticians from 2019 to 2029 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), now is the time to diversify
our workforce in the specialties of biostatistics and data science. Herein, we plan to expand the pool of
students from underrepresented groups in these disciplines by introducing a new curriculum for
teaching critical skills in biostatistics and data science, LA’s Biostatistics and Data Science Summer
Training Program at the University of Southern California (LA’s BeST @USC), with a focus on current
research challenges in the study of heart and lung disease.
 The Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Preventive Medicine of the University of
Southern California (USC) is uniquely positioned to attract talented undergraduates from
underrepresented groups into these fields due to its success in graduate level training since 1976, its
location in the ethnically diverse LA Basin, its multi-disciplinary research in diverse populations, and
real-life oriented approach to biomedical research. The faculty has expertise in ‘big data’, machine
learning, epidemiological methods, spatial statistics and clinical trials, and has an NIH-funded P01 to
develop novel statistical methods for integrative genomics. Training a diverse workforce of scientists
requires a diverse faculty. A team of faculty from backgrounds including women, Latinx, Japanese
American, and first in their family to attain a college education, who all share a tradition of individual
hands-on research mentorship and extensive portfolios of research grant support in biostatistics,
epidemiology, clinical trials, and electronic health records, is amassed and available to trainees. With
this team, we propose the following specific aims: 1) To identify and recruit high-quality and highly
motivated college undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. 2) To provide the trainees
with courses and hands-on training in biostatistics and data science. 3) To provide mentoring and
professional development training. 4) To track LA’s BeST trainees through completion of their
undergraduate degree, post-graduate education, and to their first employment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10590701
- **Project number:** 5R25HL161788-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Juan Pablo Lewinger
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $250,710
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10590701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10590701, LA’s Biostatistics and Data Science Training Program (LA’s BeST) (5R25HL161788-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10590701. Licensed CC0.

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