Cancer epidemiology continues to evolve as high-throughput technologies create an exciting interface between epidemiology, molecular biology, and big data science. Bioinformatics is the interdisciplinary field that merges traditional epidemiology with these disciplines to analyze complex biological data. We define this approach as “Systems Epidemiology” by applying novel computational analytics to explore mechanistic underpinnings of epidemiologic studies into cancer risk and outcome, and to translate findings to strategies that mitigate cancer risk. With our outstanding recent CPRIT faculty recruits, we are well suited to propose this expansion of our successful CPRIT training program. T...

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Cancer epidemiology continues to evolve as high-throughput technologies create an exciting interface between epidemiology, molecular biology, and big data science. Bioinformatics is the interdisciplinary field that merges traditional epidemiology with these disciplines to analyze complex biological data. We define this approach as “Systems Epidemiology” by applying novel computational analytics to explore mechanistic underpinnings of epidemiologic studies into cancer risk and outcome, and to translate findings to strategies that mitigate cancer risk. With our outstanding recent CPRIT faculty recruits, we are well suited to propose this expansion of our successful CPRIT training program. This holistic paradigm sets our Program apart from current training models in population health, and is particularly relevant for Texas, a state characterized by a large diverse population with documented health disparities that carry a significant cancer burden. We propose a 3-year postdoctoral training program integrating the rigors of epidemiologic methods, environmental health sciences and computational biology. Our program will be personalized, with a multidisciplinary team of mentors constructed for each trainee and built around four interacting themes: 1) big data, 2) molecular, 3) environmental, and 4) computational epidemiology. We will recruit motivated PhD epidemiologists, bioinformaticians, or MDs with degrees in relevant fields to become successful cross-trained scientists. Building on our unbridled commitment to diversity, we emphasize recruitment of minority candidates. Trainees will benefit from our experienced cadre of faculty mentors for rich research opportunities and can leverage the vast institutional resources at Baylor and the Texas Medical Center. Our long-term goal is to train a diverse research workforce to be independent, productive scientists with a focus on prevention, clinical, or translational cancer research relevant for Texas.

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