BURPPE: Boston University Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Training Program
openNICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Boston University Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology (BURPPE) T32 training program
aims to equip predoctoral trainees with cutting-edge skills in epidemiology, digital health data, and community-
engaged research needed to address pressing issues in the fields of reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric (RPP)
epidemiology. In addition to advances in epidemiologic methods, innovations in the collection of health data
increasingly require researchers to analyze and translate complex data. Community-engaged research skills are
essential to address priorities of understudied populations and ensure that RPP research applies to the entire
population. Yet very few training programs prepare students with the combination of quantitative skills and
community-engaged research. This proposed program will provide predoctoral scholars with experience at the
intersection of novel epidemiologic methods, innovative digital health data, and community-engaged research.
The Department of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) provides an exceptional
environment for RPP training. Department faculty are leading RPP scholars and award-winning teachers and
mentors. BURPPE trainees will complete advanced curricula in RPP epidemiology and leverage unique
resources at the forefront of RPP research. Examples of resources for hands-on training include: a national
prospective cohort study of pregnancy planners that illustrates the power of web-based recruitment; electronic
medical records from a safety net hospital; high-intensity digital data flows, including from remote blood pressure
monitors on postpartum patients; and Medicaid data among reproductive-aged individuals with disabilities.
This proposed T32 will provide support to 6 predoctoral scholars annually to achieve excellence in 4 training
pillars: 1) RPP epidemiology, 2) digital data collection, 3) novel analytic methods and 4) community-engaged
research. BURPPE trainees will participate in co-curricular activities that expand on the existing PhD program
including research rotations with interdisciplinary mentorship, topical seminars with trainees and faculty, and
clinical shadowing. Career development training on grant and manuscript writing, peer review, and responsible
conduct and reproducibility of research will be integrated into the program. Upon graduation, trainees will be
prepared to lead independent, original research effectively addressing urgent issues in RPP health.
The program will be directed by a MPI team of Dr. Wise, Dr. Werler, and Dr. Kelleher who bring experience in
RPP epidemiology, research funding, and training program administration. The current proposal builds on our
successful prior BURPPE T32 (2007-2017), with enhancements based on evaluation and alumni feedback. The
program directors will be supported by multiple primary and secondary preceptors within the Department of
Epidemiology as well as across BUSPH and the BU School of Medicine. The proposed BURPPE training
program is poised to launch epidemiologists into the field to innovatively address RPP population health.
Up to $273K
health research