J: NRSA Training Core

The purpose of our NRSA TL1 Training Core is to develop, implement and disseminate innovative educational programs designed to catalyze and launch the careers of the next generation of transdisciplinary (TD) investigators in clinical and translational science (CTS). Our NRSA-TL1 pre- doctoral and postdoctoral trainees, equipped with clinical epidemiology skills, data science acumen and teaming capacity, will be prepared to embrace the scientific and medical challenges of tomorrow and pursue novel healthcare solutions. As medicine increasingly tackles previously intractable, yet common complex chronic diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease), training in patient-oriented research (POR) needs to champion and catalyze trainee specific data science acumen and capacity. A deeper understanding of data science will enable emerging investigators to capitalize, learn from, harness the potential and realize the promise of Big Data (genetic, epigenetic, biochemical, administrative, quantified self and real world). Our program will catalyze the development of the next generation of leaders in CTS and TD research by building upon our previously established CTSA-funded competency-based educational initiatives, innovative data science curricular activities, novel training assessment toolkits, peer and near peer mentorship and our highly productive and impactful Patient Oriented Research Training, And Leadership (PORTAL) Program, that supports both medical students and PhD students. Our efforts to realize modern CTS through TD research training of physician and PhD data scientists is informed by and leverages our long-standing institutional commitment to big data research, as evidenced by our Biomedical Data Science Initiative, the Exposomics Institute, the PhD programs in Genomics, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Clinical Informatics Fellowship, Center for Resilience and Personal Growth as well as our Resilience Accelerators. Our strategically aligned, stage- and learner-specific pedagogical approaches and educational forums aspire to propel the CTS workforce of tomorrow prepared to unravel and reduce chronic disease burden and advance collaborative team science capacity committed to improving the health of society.