This application requests a 5-year renewal of the postdoctoral research training program in women's reproductive health at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). This renewal will continue to support 5 positions (2 MDs and 3 clinical or research PhDs) for trainees conducting research in 5 areas related to women's reproductive health: (1) Reproductive endocrinology & contraception; (2) Pregnancy-related conditions; (3) Cancer of the breast & reproductive organs (4) Sexually transmitted infections; and (5) Health disparities & Hispanic health. A total of (17) well-funded and highly published faculty from 4 different departments, who have co-authored and co-mentored for many years, will continue to collaborate to provide individualized training for trainees based on 10 educational objectives. Informal training is supplemented by formal coursework, a postdoctoral seminar series, career development seminars, and luncheons with institutional leaders. To administer this sophisticated program, the PI/PD will work with two assistant directors, a program coordinator, the head of the core on methodology and statistics, an executive committee and an advisory committee. Postdoctoral trainees will continue to be recruited through the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health (CIRWH), which is directed by the PI/PD, specifically for an appointment on this T32. A multi-component plan has been developed and successfully implemented to attract a diverse pool of highly competitive candidates. These efforts have resulted in an average of 15 applicants for each available position with 25% of those selected from underrepresented groups. All positions have been filled with several applicants now awaiting openings. This program fills a unique niche at UTMB as it is the first of its type to be dedicated to the reproductive health of women as well as the frst and only T32 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Its success during the first cycle of funding is demonstrated by an increase in the quantity of women's health research conducted at UTMB and the strong level of institutional support pledged for the next 5 years. Overall, 12 fellows were supported during the first funding cycle, 6 with health professional degrees. In spite of the hardships imposed by Hurricane Ike, these trainees presented 32 abstracts at national meetings and published 27 articles in peer-reviewed journals. An additional 9 manuscripts are under review for a total of 36 manuscripts submitted or published. Five trainees have obtained entry level faculty appointments and all but one remain in academic positions. For the second cycle, the institution has generously agreed to commit 10% protected time for the PI, 50% of a Head for the Methodology and Statistics Core, 50% of a program coordinator and funds for each trainee to attend an additional meeting each year. We will use knowledge gained during the first 5 years and increased institutional support to further improve this program and anticipate even greater productivity during the next funding cycle.

Public Health Relevance

Women experience a reproductive period of almost 40 years. Professional opinion has concluded that women's reproductive health includes a wide range of areas of concern, including cancer prevention and health disparities, as well as issues relating to contraception and pregnancy. This postdoctoral training program will produce new researchers, trained in interdisciplinary teams, whose investigations will improve the health of women during the reproductive period.

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 #
3T32HD055163-09S1
Application #
9386175
Study Section
Program Officer
Halvorson, Lisa M
Project Start
2008-05-01
Project End
2018-04-30
Budget Start
2016-12-01
Budget End
2017-04-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Department
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771149
City
Galveston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77555
Cofie, Leslie E; Hirth, Jacqueline M; Guo, Fangjian et al. (2018) HPV Vaccination Among Foreign-Born Women: Examining the National Health Interview Survey 2013-2015. Am J Prev Med 54:20-27
Guo, Fangjian; Cofie, Leslie E; Berenson, Abbey B (2018) Cervical Cancer Incidence in Young U.S. Females After Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Introduction. Am J Prev Med 55:197-204
Hirth, Jacqueline M; Batuuka, Denise N; Gross, Tyra T et al. (2018) Human papillomavirus vaccine motivators and barriers among community college students: Considerations for development of a successful vaccination program. Vaccine 36:1032-1037
Berenson, Abbey B; Hirth, Jacqueline M; Guo, Fangjian et al. (2018) Prevention Practices among United States Pregnant Women Who Travel to Zika Outbreak Areas. Am J Trop Med Hyg 98:178-180
Guo, Fangjian; Hirth, Jacqueline M; Berenson, Abbey B (2017) Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Pap Smear Uptake Among Young Women in the United States: Role of Provider and Patient. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 26:1114-1122
Guo, Fangjian; Hirth, Jacqueline M; Lin, Yu-Li et al. (2017) Use of BRCA Mutation Test in the U.S., 2004-2014. Am J Prev Med 52:702-709
Berenson, Abbey B; Brown, V Gnaukita; Fuchs, Erika L et al. (2017) Relationship between maternal experiences and adolescent HPV vaccination. Hum Vaccin Immunother 13:2150-2154
Berenson, Abbey B; Trinh, Ha N; Hirth, Jacqueline M et al. (2017) Knowledge and Prevention Practices among U.S. Pregnant Immigrants from Zika Virus Outbreak Areas. Am J Trop Med Hyg 97:155-162
Guo, Fangjian; Garvey, W Timothy (2017) Cardiometabolic Disease Staging Predicts Effectiveness of Weight-Loss Therapy to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Pooled Results From Phase III Clinical Trials Assessing Phentermine/Topiramate Extended Release. Diabetes Care 40:856-862
Guo, Fangjian; Norton, Alexander R; Fuchs, Erika L et al. (2017) Provider-patient communication about Zika during prenatal visits. Prev Med Rep 7:26-29

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