Behavioral-Biomedical Interface: Translational and Prevention Sciences Training - Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. This predoctoral research training program focuses on transdisciplinary training of future behavioral scientists organized around research concepts and methods at the interface of behavioral and biomedical domains. The program’s cross-cutting theme emphasizes translational sciences, accentuates facets of prevention science, and engages both human and animal-model approaches to research. The predoctoral Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program (BBIP) stems from NIGMS's “Interface of the Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences” initiative. BBIP engages trainees from three disciplinary units that are heavily involved in the behavioral sciences: epidemiology, exercise science, and psychology. The behavioral and biomedical sciences faculty mentors and BBIP trainees are working on health-related research problems linked for example to cancer, cardiovascular health, children’s behavioral and mental health, diabetes, obesity and physical activity in childhood and adulthood, stroke and brain injury, and substance abuse. Providing the cross-disciplinary training are faculty mentors, laboratory hosts, program leaders, and course instructors who bring to bear a broad array of disciplines and research areas such as epidemiology and related public health areas, exercise science, genetics, neuroscience, prevention science, psychology, and quantitative methods/biostatistics. BBIP training includes coursework, integrated with doctoral degree curricula, in neuroscience, genetics, translational science, prevention science, responsible conduct of research, methods to enhance rigor and reproducibility, and advanced statistical and design methods. Trainees participate in two laboratory rotations and in a behavioral-biomedical-interface seminar course; and they engage in mentored research throughout training. A Topic Sessions Series addresses scientific, methodological, career and professional development, and scientific integrity topics. The program aims to foster a positive multi-disciplinary climate, encourage advanced quantitative/statistical skill development, and inspire dissertational research informed by behavioral-biomedical interface issues. This training program runs parallel to each trainee's discipline-specific doctoral degree program and builds capacity with respect to behavioral scientists who are sufficiently exposed to the biomedical sciences to effectively contribute to multi-disciplinary teams engaged in research aimed at understanding and preventing significant health disorders and conditions to promote positive health outcomes.
