Our T32 research training program is co-directed by Hashem B El-Serag, M.D., M.P.H. and Fasiha Kanwal, M.D., MSHS.
Program Description
The training program was established in 2010 and is currently funded by the NIH through 2025. Ours is the only adult GI research training program that is supported by a NIH training grant in Texas as well as neighboring states: Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana.
The training program is designed to prepare scientists to conduct state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research that will accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries to improve the digestive health of people and populations. The program places a strong emphasis on epidemiology and health services research, and we are committed to training the next generation of researchers who will assume leadership roles in these fields.
To accomplish our goals, the training program includes the following four features:
- Vigorous mentoring for each individual fellow in a self-selected area of concentration to engender the development of a feasible career research agenda that has the potential for substantial impact
- Formal research education resulting in an advanced degree, either master’s (or equivalent) or Ph.D.
- Completion of a research project
- Applied research seminars to model the use of research skills
Key Highlights
All our postdoctoral trainees enroll in advanced degree programs.
All trainees have been extremely productive, with multiple first-author papers in high-impact journals and presentations at national meetings. Collectively, in the last four years, our trainees contributed to 71 papers published or accepted for publication.
Of the post-doctoral trainees who completed their T32 training and graduated from our program since its inception, all successfully transitioned into research-intensive or research-related academic faculty positions and 50% have obtained independent research grant funding.
Mentors
The mentors represent a multidisciplinary group of experienced investigators from various departments at Baylor College of Medicine, all with well-funded research programs that cover broad areas of clinical research, including epidemiology (e.g., clinical, molecular, genetic and microbiome), health services research, decision making and implementation research related to several digestive disorders. Existing faculty members have outstanding mentoring histories and excellent track records of participation in our training program activities.
View more details on the members of the mentoring team.
Other Details
The research track includes 24 months of clinical rotations, which occur during the first two years of training. See Academic Clinical Track for more details about rotations and call schedules.
The third and fourth years of the T32 Research Track involve at least 85% protected time to complete an advanced degree (M.P.H., Masters in clinical investigation or Ph.D.), conduct mentored research and participate in career development activities. See sample Timeline for T32 Training.
The program offers many seminars and education activities for trainees to ensure they are continually exposed to cutting-edge research and discoveries in digestive diseases, epidemiology and related fields. In addition, attendance provides opportunity for strengthening a multidisciplinary community of trainees, because these seminars are also attended by all other postdoctoral fellows.
We also offer a year-round lecture series designed for the GI T32 trainees and early career GI scientist/clinical or translational investigators. The T32 lecture series is designed to develop skills necessary for an academic career yet not routinely covered in formal educational programs.
Clinical opportunities exist during this time to pursue focused clinical training within the field of research focus.
