Targeting Research and Academic Training of Nurses in Genomics

ABSTRACT This competing renewal application for an Institutional NRSA has the goal of continuing to providing education and training to nurses at the predoctoral and postdoctoral level in the field of omics research. Omics research continues to be relevant for nursing research, evidenced by the momentum for precision health care. Bringing research efforts to bear upon clinically relevant issues requires that a continuous cadre of individuals receive state of the science education and training to allow them to incorporate omics into their research trajectories. Nurses are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between omics research and clinical practice. They interact with patients at all stages of life, and in all clinical arenas. Their work is interdisciplinary by nature. More nurses are now receiving education in omics because of the inclusion of genomics into nursing curricula across the country. Nevertheless, there continue to be few opportunities for long-term laboratory-based training in the conduct of cutting-edge omics research. Such training opportunities are essential because nearly every condition studied by nurse scientists, including those on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, has an omic component. Our objective is to train talented nurse scientists, at the beginning stages of their careers, to develop research trajectories related to the application and evaluation of omics in improving patient outcomes. The goal of the training program is to prepare predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees to incorporate omics into their research trajectories using didactic courses, clinical rotations, journal clubs, seminars, individualized practica, laboratory experiences, and presentations at scientific meetings. Objectives of the program focus on training in: 1) the integration of omics into theoretical / conceptual frameworks; 2) omics research methodology; 3) omics laboratory techniques; 4) clinical application of omics; and 5) applicability of bioinformatics and genomic Big Data. Reasons why the School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh continues to be the ideal environment for such a training program are elaborated in the application.