# Translational Epidemiology - Training for Research on Aging and Chronic disease

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $961,147

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Chronic diseases impose a crushing burden on older adults and present unique intellectual, methodological,
and statistical challenges to scientists and policy makers. These challenges were highlighted by the
disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with chronic conditions. In this
resubmission of our renewal application for the UCSF T32 Translational Epidemiology - Training for Research
on Aging and Chronic Conditions (TE-TRAC) program, we build on our successful first funding cycle. TE-TRAC
pre- and post-doctoral trainees focus on aging and chronic diseases affecting the health of older adults,
including Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, cancer, musculoskeletal, and cardiometabolic disorders.
Our T32 program provides trainees with outstanding quantitative research skills and substantive expertise
relevant to aging, emphasizing: 1) substantive understanding of the epidemiology of aging and the intersection
of biological and social processes relevant to the health of aging populations; 2) rigorous, reproducible analytic
methods for complex data, including causal inference and statistical methods; 3) data skills to identify, access,
link, and use multi-level data resources, such as longitudinal survey-based cohorts, electronic health records or
“omic” information; 4) training in translational research to deliver evidence relevant to policy, clinical, or
behavioral interventions to improve health; and 5) mentorship tailored to ensure trainee success in research
careers. For pre-doctoral trainees, formal classroom training is combined with applied research rotations and
co-curricular activities to foster rapid development of research expertise and expose students to diverse
perspectives and methods. Post-doctoral trainees build individualized research agendas and lay the
groundwork for their future careers. TE-TRAC is housed in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
and faculty mentors with deep expertise in clinical and population research are drawn from across UCSF and
its affiliates. TE-TRAC leadership works closely with faculty mentors individually and via the Mentoring
Collaborative to foster optimal mentoring skill development. In its first 5 years, TE-TRAC has successfully
recruited excellent trainees who have made outstanding professional progress. To date, 7/17 (41%) trainees
have been from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in science. Consistent with the goals of the NRSA
program, our alumni have secured desirable positions both inside (78%) and outside (22%) academia. TE-
TRAC has been oversubscribed with strong candidates and strong mentors, requiring that we turn away highly
qualified pre- and post-doctoral fellows who would benefit from participation and enrich the experience of other
trainees. We therefore seek to increase from 2 to 3 second-year pre-doctoral and from 2 to 4 post-doctoral
slots per incoming cohort. An External Advisory Committee will monitor and ev...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10641744
- **Project number:** 5T32AG049663-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Peggy Mannen Cawthon
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $961,147
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-05-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10641744

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10641744, Translational Epidemiology - Training for Research on Aging and Chronic disease (5T32AG049663-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10641744. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*