# Clinical and Translational Research Training in Geriatric Mental Health

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $255,819

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This proposal requests support for the five-year continuation of our NIMH-funded institutional training grant,
“Clinical and Translational Research Training in Late-Life Mood Disorders” (T32 MH019986), Years 21-25.
The primary goal of this two-year fellowship (three years in selected case) is to provide rigorous training in the
basic foundations and methodologic tools necessary for successful clinical and translational investigation in
geriatric mental health and psychiatry. The fellowship is designed for post-residency psychiatrists and PhDs in
the behavioral sciences (four post-doctoral fellows annually). Consistent with NIMH priorities, the focus of
training in the new funding period will continue to be translational and treatment development research, as well
as interventions and mental health services research. Research training is designed to be broadly multi
disciplinary. The most important components of the training program are apprenticeship with an academically
successful mentor and a structured training plan facilitated by a network of committed faculty. In most cases,
this leads to faculty appointments and successful competition for extramural funding. Trainees develop core
skills and knowledge in grant writing and research project management by participating in a weekly career and
research development seminar, and focus on issues specific to geriatric mental health research in twice
monthly meetings with the program directors. A wide range of didactic offerings is available and is prescribed
on an individual basis. All fellows participate in ongoing training in the responsible conduct of research. The
proposed training activities take place within the Geriatric Psychiatry Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
The second goal of the program is to provide research training opportunities, in the form of a summer research
elective, to rising second-year medical students, in order to attract a diverse and talented group of medical
students into psychiatric research careers. We propose to continue funding two summer research elective
slots annually through this training program, as well as a one year-long medical student fellowship to the most
promising student in each summer's program.
Both components of the program, pre- and post-doctoral, are part of a broad research training strategy at the
University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, to respond to a national shortage of researchers in geriatric
mental health. The Department fosters many research career development activities for students and faculty
at all levels. This training grant both contributes to and benefits from this developmental strategy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9924644
- **Project number:** 5T32MH019986-24
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** HOWARD J AIZENSTEIN
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $255,819
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-07-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9924644

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9924644, Clinical and Translational Research Training in Geriatric Mental Health (5T32MH019986-24). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9924644. Licensed CC0.

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