# Training Program in Gastrointestinal Epidemiology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $164,261

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The purpose of our Training Program in Gastrointestinal (GI) Epidemiology is to train and develop
future independent investigators and leaders in GI clinical research by providing selected GI fellows with:
(1) core methodological 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 is the third competitive
renewal application for our uniquely focused program. With this training, our T32 fellows leave GI fellowship
poised to compete for tenure-track faculty positions and secure external funding for further career
development, ultimately leading to independent research careers. Since inception in 2002, 14 trainees have
completed this program. Nearly 80% are faculty at academic medical centers, and nearly two-thirds
successfully competed for foundation or federal career development awards. We request support for 2
post-doctoral trainees (i.e., GI fellows) per training year to support the growing interest in clinical research
careers among GI trainees, with each trainee completing two years of training (i.e., 4 trainees total).
The goals of the Training Program in GI Epidemiology are: (1) completion of a Master’s degree focused on
the design and execution of clinical research; (2) completion of a focused GI clinical research seminar series
and a comprehensive clinical epidemiology/health care policy seminar series; (3) successful design, execution,
and publication of multiple clinical research projects under the guidance of a team of mentors, including
content experts (e.g., gastroenterologists) and methodologists (e.g., epidemiologists); and, (4) preparation of a
career development award or other grant application. Each trainee focuses on a specific topic and completes 3
interrelated projects: (1) a meta-analysis; (2) a secondary dataset analysis; and, (3) design of a prospective
study. These projects provide the foundation and preliminary data for a career development award application.
Our training program is greatly enhanced by the rich, collaborative environment of the University of
Michigan, with its vast resources, centers, and research institutes, including: (1) the CTSA-supported
Michigan Institute of Clinical and Health Research (MICHR); (2) the Institute for Healthcare Policy and
Innovation; and, (3) the VA Center for Clinical Management Research (a VA HSR&D Center of Innovation).
Our multi-disciplinary Core Faculty includes expert biostatisticians, epidemiologists, behavioral economists,
policy-makers, and translational, clinical, and outcomes researchers from not only the Division of
Gastroenterology, but also the Division of General Internal Medicine and the School of Public Health. Most
faculty are federally-funded for their ongoing research, and these faculty offer a broad spectrum of research
expertise with multiple levels of established collaboration and many years of experience mentoring trainees.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948617
- **Project number:** 5T32DK062708-18
- **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:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $164,261
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2003-02-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948617

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948617, Training Program in Gastrointestinal Epidemiology (5T32DK062708-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948617. Licensed CC0.

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