BUILDING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CAREERS IN WOMEN'S HEALTH
The Penn
State BIRCWH program is supported
by a 5-year K12 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
The grant provides funds for junior faculty BIRCWH scholars to
receive mentored research career development in interdisciplinary
research on women’s health or on sex/gender differences related
to biology, health, or disease. Eight BIRCWH scholars will be
selected at the College of Medicine, College of Health and
Human Development, and College of Liberal Arts for 2- or 3-year
training periods under the direction of senior faculty mentors
from multiple disciplines. The first Penn State BIRCWH scholars
were appointed as of January 1, 2008.
The goal of the BIRCWH program is to increase the number and skills of investigators in women’s health through a mentored research and career development experience leading to an independent interdisciplinary scientific career that will benefit the health of women.The expanding research agenda in women’s health is informed by multiple scientific disciplines, including the biological, physical, and social sciences. Research integrating knowledge from multiple perspectives is needed to advance the field of women’s health and to improve women’s health and health services. The interdisciplinary research conducted by BIRCWH scholars may be basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and/or health services research relevant to women’s health or to sex/gender factors related to health. Congratulations to BIRCWH Scholars Amy Marshall and Nazia Raja-Khan, who have received NIH grants.
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| At Penn State, 21 senior faculty mentors have been identified in four core research areas: |
| 1. Precursors and Consequences of Obesity |
| Drs. Leann Birch (Core Leader), Rebecca Corwin, Robert Gabbay, Duanping Liao, Barbara Rolls |
| 2. Reproductive Health |
| Drs. Richard Legro (Core Leader), Elizabeth Susman, George Vogler, Carol Weisman, Nancy Williams |
| 3. Sex and Gender Issues in Health and Disease |
| Drs. Sheri Berenbaum (Core Leader), Karen Bierman, Elana Farace, Susan McHale, Lawrence Sinoway |
| 4. Cancer Prevention, Screening and Treatment |
| Drs. Joshua Muscat (Core Leader), Neil Christensen, Karam El-Bayoumy, Philip Lazarus, Eugene Lengerich, Kathleen Mulder |
| BIRCWH scholars are required to identify a mentor team consisting of at least two mentors in different disciplines. |
| BIRCWH scholars are required to devote 75% effort to mentored research career development during their 2- or 3-year appointments as BIRCWH scholars. The BIRCWH grant provides 75% salary support (up to a maximum of $75,000 per year) plus fringe benefits. The total of salary + fringe benefits cannot exceed $92,593/yr. If the entire $92,593 is not needed for salary and fringe benefits, the remainder can be used for research support. Additional funds (typically approximately $8,000 per year) are also available to support research, including data management and statistical support services, as well as lab tests and related support for BIRCWH scholars. Finally, funds for travel to the annual BIRCWH meeting and 1 scientific meeting/yr are also available. |
| The Principal Investigator of the PSU-BIRCWH program is: Carol S. Weisman, PhD Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Medicine Distinguished Professor of Public Health Sciences, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Health Policy & Administration cweisman@psu.edu |
| The Program Director is: Kristen H. Kjerulff, PhD Professor of Public Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology khk2@psu.edu |