# Clinical Research in Digestive Diseases (CRDD) Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $287,213

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This application aims to renew the Clinical Research in Digestive Diseases (CRDD) Training
Program (T32 DK062708). This training program, continuously funded since 2003, has an
excellent track record of preparing physician-scientists for successful careers in clinical
research. In the past 19 years (2003-2022), 81% of our 22 program graduates have attained
research-intensive (45%) or research-related (36%) academic positions. During this time, our 22
graduates have earned 21 academic appointments, 15 K-equivalent (career development)
awards, and 25 R, U, or equivalent senior research awards. The objective of the program is to
develop future independent investigators in GI and hepatology clinical research by providing
selected fellows with: (1) core skills in the design and execution of clinical research; and (2) a
structured, mentored research experience under the guidance of our world-class Core Faculty.
This application proposes to support a total of 3 postdoctoral research fellows with one enrolled
each year for a 3-year training period, beginning after their first clinical year of GI fellowship
training. The rationale for this training program is that (1) gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases
are major causes of morbidity and mortality with evolving epidemiology and increasing burden;
(2) digestive diseases are propelled by complex processes in need of multidisciplinary
approaches; and (3) the field faces a threatened pipeline of diverse investigators committed to
careers studying digestive diseases, particularly after the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The design of our training program includes (1) recruitment of talented, diverse candidates
committed to careers in research; (2) an immersive, individualized training plan for program
trainees; and (3) deliberate preparation of program graduates for independently successful
careers. All trainees participate in a mentored research experience, supported by a research
advisory committee. Trainees are selected in a separate clinical research match when they
apply for clinical training. All trainees acquire a master's degree in clinical research methods
during their second year of fellowship, which is the first year of research training. The core
curriculum includes research design and statistics, training in responsible research conduct and
reproducible research practices, communication skills, grant writing, and career development.
New research areas added since the last renewal include: (1) machine learning and deep
learning methods; (2) data science and precision medicine; (3) adaptive and platform trial
design; and (4) health equity. Based on feedback from our current fellows and many successful
alumni, we are continuously improving this successful T32 training program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10825501
- **Project number:** 5T32DK062708-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter D.R. Higgins
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $287,213
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2003-02-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10825501

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10825501, Clinical Research in Digestive Diseases (CRDD) Training Program (5T32DK062708-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10825501. Licensed CC0.

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