25-10-2012, 10:25 AM
Postdoctoral Training Program in Biobehavioral Breast Cancer Research
ABSTRACT
Accumulating evidence indicates that the ‘biobehavioral model’ of health and disease may have considerable relevance
for cancer generally, and breast cancer in particular. Broadly stated, this model proposes that what people think and feel affects
the state of their health in two basic ways: by affecting their behavioral choices (e.g., smoking) and by affecting biological
processes (e.g., cortisol levels) that affect risk and response to disease. Given the complexity of the interactions postulated by
the biobehavioral model, to fully explore its implications for breast cancer it will be important to increase the number of
researchers with the broad-based training that allows them to conduct truly interdisciplinary research addressing issues that
transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Our Post-doctoral Training Program in Biobehavioral Breast Cancer Research
was designed to provide trainees with advanced degrees in relevant areas (e.g., epidemiology, medicine, psychology, public
health) with the necessary intellectual background needed to ‘speak the language’ of the multiple relevant disciplines and with
the ‘hands-on’ experience under the tutelage of experienced mentors necessary to do interdisciplinary research and become
independent investigators. Trainees have demonstrated proficiency in doing research and reporting results.