As noted by the Institute of Medicine, preparing well-trained and innovative new clinical investigators dedicated to reproductive health and contraceptive research is an urgent priority. Nationally, these areas of women's health remain under-represented in the research agenda of academic programs, and few obstetricians/gynecologists have formal training in research. The Training in Epidemiology and Clinical Trials for Obstetrician-Gynecologists (TECT) program provides unparalleled training for a career in clinical research. We are pleased to submit this proposal to continue our TECT partnership which unites the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and Family Health International in a rigorous research training program. Since 2001, we have selected 18 highly qualified trainees, most of whom have been women and/or ethnic minorities from among more than 100 inquiries. We currently have three Fellows and will have a full complement of five in the next academic year. All prior Fellows have earned an MPH or MSCR;most are in research-dominant academic careers with >50% FTE for research, and several have extramural funding to support their research. Our Principal Investigator is David Grimes, MD, who holds appointments at FHI, Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Center for Women's Health Research at UNC. The Program Director is Joanne Garrett, MPH, PhD, who has an appointment in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Duke Lead is Evan Myers, MD, MPH, who is key faculty in both Duke components and Epidemiology at UNC. The three lead faculty have more than a half century of experience in training and mentoring young clinical researchers here and abroad. The leadership team works with Faculty Mentors and Resource Faculty to select and train Fellows. All trainees complete an MPH or MSCR with an emphasis on clinical trials methodology. They also participate in a Seminar Series, Work-in-Progress Forum, and Grant Writing Group. Given the exceptional quality of the training and research opportunities, the diversity and interests of the applicant pool, and the proven commitment of the partner institutions, we are confident we can continue to prepare the next generation of clinical researchers. The attached publication list of our current and former TECT trainees documents their research productivity. Graduates of the TECT Fellowship are now in leadership positions in academic medicine and are helping to train the next generation of clinical researchers.

Public Health Relevance

According to the Institute of Medicine, preparing well-trained clinical investigators in reproductive health and contraceptive research is a national priority. Regrettably, few academic obstetrician/gynecologists have had any formal training in research. To address this deficiency, our Fellowship provides the skills needed to become an independent researcher through a Master's program in research methods combined with clinical research conducted under close faculty supervision.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32HD040672-12
Application #
8310183
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Mackay, H Trent
Project Start
2001-06-27
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2013-04-30
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$303,697
Indirect Cost
$25,012
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Kilfoyle, Kimberly A; Des Marais, Andrea C; Ngo, Mai Anh et al. (2018) Preference for Human Papillomavirus Self-Collection and Papanicolaou: Survey of Underscreened Women in North Carolina. J Low Genit Tract Dis 22:302-310
Kilfoyle, Kimberly A; Vrees, Roxanne; Raker, Christina A et al. (2017) Nonurgent and urgent emergency department use during pregnancy: an observational study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 216:181.e1-181.e7
Barber, Emma L; Clarke-Pearson, Daniel L (2017) Prevention of venous thromboembolism in gynecologic oncology surgery. Gynecol Oncol 144:420-427
Cadish, Lauren A; Shepherd, Jonathan P; Barber, Emma L et al. (2017) Risks and benefits of opportunistic salpingectomy during vaginal hysterectomy: a decision analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 217:603.e1-603.e6
Barber, Emma L; Rossi, Emma C; Gehrig, Paola A (2017) Surgical readmission and survival in women with ovarian cancer: Are short-term quality metrics incentivizing decreased long-term survival? Gynecol Oncol 147:607-611
Barber, Emma L; Doll, Kemi M; Gehrig, Paola A (2017) Hospital readmission after ovarian cancer surgery: Are we measuring surgical quality? Gynecol Oncol 146:368-372
Barber, Emma L; Dusetzina, Stacie B; Stitzenberg, Karyn B et al. (2017) Variation in neoadjuvant chemotherapy utilization for epithelial ovarian cancer at high volume hospitals in the United States and associated survival. Gynecol Oncol 145:500-507
Barber, Emma L; Harris, Benjamin; Gehrig, Paola A (2016) Trainee participation and perioperative complications in benign hysterectomy: the effect of route of surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 215:215.e1-7
Barber, Emma L; Gehrig, Paola A; Clarke-Pearson, Daniel L (2016) Venous Thromboembolism in Minimally Invasive Compared With Open Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer. Obstet Gynecol 128:121-6
Barber, Emma L; Bensen, Jeannette T; Snavely, Anna C et al. (2016) Who presents satisfied? Non-modifiable factors associated with patient satisfaction among gynecologic oncology clinic patients. Gynecol Oncol 142:299-303

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