# Digestive Disease Epidemiology Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $408,104

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The burden of digestive and liver diseases is considerable. To reduce that burden, the primary mission of the
Digestive Disease Epidemiology Training Program at the University of North Carolina is to train independent
researchers who will improve our understanding of the magnitude, etiology, impact, and treatment of digestive
and liver diseases, and who will assume leadership roles in GI epidemiology and outcomes research. To
accomplish that mission, the program includes the following aims: 1) provide formal advanced training in
epidemiologic methods and biostatistics leading to an MSCR or PhD in epidemiology; 2) emphasize the
design, execution, analysis and publication of a research project; 3) assign mentors with expertise in clinical
epidemiology and gastroenterology to guide the developing investigator; 4) deliver an integrative core
curriculum designed to acquire professional skills necessary for an academic career; 5) concurrently train 3
MD’s and 2 PhD candidates. Postdoctoral applicants are specifically recruited and matched to this high impact
training program. The postdoctoral trainees spend four years in fellowship including two years in dedicated
research training and two years in clinical training. Predoctoral trainees spend 2 to 4 years leading to a PhD in
epidemiology. The program takes advantage of unique and considerable institutional strengths in public health
and gastroenterology, and a strong institutional commitment. Highly collaborative faculty mentors provide
expert guidance. A core curriculum leads to competencies in: clinical research study design, fundamentals of
data analysis, grant proposal development, interdisciplinary collaboration, project oversight and management,
oral and written presentation, and professional development. The training faculty includes 14 seasoned
investigators from adult or pediatric GI and the Department of Epidemiology and 4 early stage investigators
who serve as junior training faculty. Trainee progress is monitored by mentors, a Training Advisory Committee
and the program director. Trainees provide anonymous feedback about the program leading to continuous
improvement. The program has a strong record of training academic leaders. Trainees in this program obtain
exceptional records of publication, outstanding methodologic skills, and extensive practical research
experience to equip them for faculty positions on completion of the fellowship.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10839684
- **Project number:** 2T32DK007634-35
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT S. SANDLER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $408,104
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1990-07-10 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10839684

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10839684, Digestive Disease Epidemiology Training Program (2T32DK007634-35). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10839684. Licensed CC0.

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