Biobehavioral Issues in Physical and Mental Health

Project Summary The primary objective of this program is to train predoctoral and postdoctoral research scientists in integrated biobehavioral approaches to the study of mental health and disorder and comorbidities. The program trains scholars in the development and application of theories and research in behavioral science integrated with biological science to understand the etiology, progression and treatment of mental disorders and physical disease. The training program consists of didactic training, intensive supervised research with a primary and secondary mentor, and a weekly colloquia series. There are three key areas of training: (1) A coordinated curriculum on the biological systems involved in psychopathology and health including methods of studying immune, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, neural processes, and genetics; (2) State-of-the-art research methods and quantitative techniques such as multi-level modeling, and latent class analyses; (3) Translational science including survey and qualitative research methods and randomized controlled intervention trials in clinical and community samples. Four predoctoral trainees in 2nd through 4th year of doctoral studies, and two postdoctoral trainees take required courses and select from electives and research opportunities to create individualized, focused programs of training. The Director, two Co-Directors, and 18 affiliated faculty members provide the training. The faculty as a whole represents research expertise in specific mental disorders (mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia) and physical health (cancer, cardiovascular disease, maternal/child health, gerontology), and all stages of the lifespan from prenatal/fetal through childhood, adolescence, adults and aging. Mentors include senior faculty with a history of collaborating in training and research and selected exceptional midcareer faculty members who have active research labs, involvement in interdisciplinary centers, and methodological expertise to the program to provide rigorous training in transdisciplinary research.