University of Michigan UroEPI Career Development Program

PROJECT ABSTRACT New medical discoveries and health care reforms are emerging at a pace that far exceeds our current capacity to translate new tests and treatments into an ever-evolving clinical environment. As such, while training in the skills required for bench to bedside translation remains fundamental, there is also a compelling need to expand the pool of epidemiological scientists capable of performing the clinical, health services, comparative effectiveness, dissemination and implementation research necessary to translate scientific discoveries not only into clinical practice but into population health benefits as well. This UM Urological Epidemiology (UroEPI) Institutional Research Career Development Program (K12) inspires and provides junior investigators/scholars with the necessary technical skills so that he/she can initiate and sustain an independent research program in the study of the epidemiology of benign urological conditions and embrace the interdisciplinarity of our institution. The UroEPI K12 consists of two principal components: 1) one year of didactic course work with concentrations in epidemiology and biostatistics; and 2) one year of applied experience in the conception, execution, and dissemination of a well-designed research project. Guided by their faculty mentor, scholars will be instructed in the philosophy, ethics and theory behind epidemiological research, as well as methodological techniques derived from a broad array of clinical, public health and social sciences. The Director and Co- Director will undertake administration of this program while progress will be monitored continuously by mentors, and biannually by the Mentor Steering Committee (MSC). Scholars will be expected to present their work to the MSC as well as at national scientific conferences. By the end of the training program, scholars will have completed both the requirements for an advanced research degree and a mentored research project, including publication of their findings in the peer-reviewed literature. Graduates of this training program will be well positioned to establish a longitudinal research agenda and to pursue an independent research career in academic Urology with a focus on the epidemiology of benign urological conditions.