This application is for a renewal of training grant: """"""""Environmental and Molecular Epidemiology"""""""" that originally was established in 1990. There remains a nation-wide need for trained epidemiologists to address the increasingly complex challenges of elucidating the etiologies of environmentally-related diseases. Especially noteworthy challenges include determination of health hazards associated with low-level toxicant exposures and characterization of gene/environment interactions to identify, susceptible subgroups in the population. The goal of the training grant is to provide training to pre- and postdoctoral epidemiologists in the methods and substantive knowledge characteristic of environmental epidemiology and the related environmental sciences of toxicology, molecular genetics, and environmental exposure assessment. The ultimate objective of the training program is to prepare health professionals to function effectively in research and teaching careers. The Environmental and Molecular Epidemiology Training Grant is comprised of two tracks: 1) a general environmental epidemiology track and 2) a molecular epidemiology track. The investigators are seeking support for 4 pre- and 1 postdoctoral trainees on the general environmental epidemiology track, and for 3 pre- and 1 postdoctoral trainees on the molecular epidemiology track. A new feature will be a postdoctoral traineeship on the general track that will support a fellow in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program in the Department of Environmental Health. Pre-doctoral trainees will pursue doctorate (Ph.D.) degree, in epidemiology; the period of support will range from 2-5 years. Postdoctoral trainees will be eligible, but not required to seek, MS or MPH degrees in epidemiology or environmental health, toxicology option. The exception will be the occupational and environmental medicine fellow who will be required to complete the MPH degree in environmental health. Postdoctoral support will be for 2-3 years. The common feature of the training for all trainees will be a focus on environmental determinants of disease, with programs of course work and research experience tailored to fit trainees' backgrounds and specific interests. The molecular epidemiology track will emphasize the application of molecular and biochemical toxicology methods to epidemiologic research. The postdoctoral molecular epidemiology trainee will be required to have a prior doctorate in toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related discipline. In addition to resources available in the Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, significant research opportunities are provided by the NIEHS-funded Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the NIEHS-funded Center for Child Environmental Health, the UW Superfund Basic Research Program Project, the UW/EPA Northwest Center for Particulate Matter Air Pollution Research, and the NIOSH-sponsored Agricultural safety and Health Center. Numerous training grant faculty either direct or are directly affiliated with one or more of these research centers. During the first 10 years of support, trainees have been successful in obtaining, appropriate classroom and research experience, including securing extramural research funding. This training grant will continue to enhance trainees' credentials necessary for productive research and teaching careers in environmental epidemiology.
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