Our inaugural cohort of K2R trainees include (l to r first row): Crystal Chapman Lambert, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, ACRN, AAHIVS; Bertha Hidalgo, MPH, PhD; Christina Muzny, MD; and Tiffany L. Carson, PhD, MPH. CCTS Training Academy Co-Director, Dr. Michael Mugavero, and Administrative Director, Dr. Becky Reamey, stand behind the trainees.Four K-funded investigators shared the aims they are developing for their first independent NIH Research Project Grant (R01)at our inaugural K2R Specific Aims Workshop, held at Edge of Chaos on Thursday, June 21. We highlight their projects below.
The specific aims workshop was divided into two sections. First, each of the K2R scholars briefly presented their aims to a group of established investigators and CCTS team members from Research Commons, our Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) unit, and our Clinical Research Support Progam (CRSP), who provided “big picture” suggestions.
Next, each of the scholars had a break-out “huddle” session with small groups of interdisciplinary scientists, each of which included scientific content and methodology experts who provided more in-depth feedback.
As a next step, each scholar will meet again with their “huddle” team to further develop their study designs, sampling methods, and data analysis plans, with a special focus on sample size and power. The scholars will also continue meeting weekly to draft the Significance and Innovation sections of their applications.
CCTS Training CoDirector Dr. Michael Mugavero said, “The opportunity to receive constructive critiques from such an experienced group of interdisciplinary CCTS experts was invaluable to our K scholars. The level of engagement and collaboration exceeded my expectations and was instrumental to the success of this inaugural Specific Aims Workshop.”
Tiffany L. Carson, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine
UAB School of Medicine
A longitudinal, bi-directional assessment of the relationship between the gut microbiota and cancer therapies among colorectal cancer patients
Bertha Hidalgo, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
UAB School of Health Professions
Epigenetic markers in women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Crystal Chapman Lambert, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, ACRN, AAHIVS
Assistant Professor
UAB School of Nursing
Improving health outcomes for minority women living with HIV
Christina Muzny, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
UAB School of Medicine
Exploring the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the temporal relationship between P. bivia and G. vaginalis leading up to incident BV in heterosexual African American women
Congrats to our first K2R cohort on their outstanding presentations, and many thanks to all of the CCTS investigators and staff who participated to further refine our scholars’ applications.
The K2R is currently in pilot mode, according to CCTS Training Academy Administrative Director Becky Reamey, PhD, who also serves as the Program Director for the UAB Scientific Community Outcomes Researchers (SCOR) group, but will likely launch in earnest early in 2019. K scholars who are interested in participating should email