We propose to establish a Population-Health, Inequities, and Maternal-Child Health Accelerator (PUMA)* program within the department that would work in concert with other clinical and academic programs to investigate critical maternal and child health problems using big datasets with translation of promising findings into clinical and public health settings.
We believe that PUMA* would serve a critical need within the department in that it would link the multiple teams currently doing research in maternal and child health and it would allow for the creation of a virtual core of experts and data sources that could be applied to a broader scope of outcomes and health inequities than are currently being addressed by individual projects. PUMA* would also provide a critical bridge to other clinical and academic programs, faculty, and trainees who often want to gain access to population-based data but have neither the time, resources, or expertise to secure and utilize them. Through PUMA*, these programs could gain access to this data and to department experts. As such, we believe that PUMA* would lead to new and productive partnerships and ultimately to accelerated translation from big data discovery to clinical and public health interventions.
PUMA* would be a multi-year effort. Year one would focus on establishing the program and on creating a resource and sustainability plan. Specifically, in year one we would: 1) Convene a cross-department summit to a) learn about data that is currently in use across the department that could be leveraged towards this focus; And, b) learn about within department programs and project teams working in maternal and child health; 2) Meet with chairs across other departments to assess their data and collaboration needs for faculty and trainees and to explore co-funding opportunities (starting with Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry); 3) Develop a department page for PUMA* that provides information on department resources and projects and personnel doing work in maternal and child health that includes an engagement tool for facilitating connections between our department and other clinical and academic programs; 4) Create a sustainability plan for funding in year two and beyond that includes outreach and potential trainings across the university depending on other clinical and academic program needs.
*The PUMA name is of course flexible:)
Comments
Sounds good! I would be
Sounds good! I would be interested in contributing to this.
Tom that would be FANTASTIC!
Tom that would be FANTASTIC!
Terrific domain: how does
Terrific domain: how does this integrate/overlap with the larger population health data initiatives? Is the emphasis data access or substantive expertise or facilitating access to technical skills?
I think there is a HUGE
I think there is a HUGE overlap with the other health data initiatives -- at least that would be the hope. The idea is to really come together around maternal and child health where this is less about getting data and technical skills to those that need and want them (although that is certainly part of the mix) but more about partnering towards solutions where we don't just provide methodological expertise but we also provide content expertise and participate in solutions. Our department is incredibly unique in that there is an incredible depth of methodologic, clinical and public health expertise. I am suggesting that we are UNIQUELY positioned to LEAD in this space.
This is a great idea,
This is a great idea, especially given the expertise within Epi and potential to coordinate this work across departments. I assume PUMA would include population health topics that are specifically related to MCH? What about a lifecourse approach?
Thanks Deb. Yes, I think work
Thanks Deb. Yes, I think work on Developmental Origins might fit in here as well re: Lifecourse.
Very interesting and exciting
Very interesting and exciting idea! I especially like the bridge to other people and groups who have not yet had an opportunity to work in this area.
Thank you Brittany Chambers
Thank you Brittany Chambers for suggesting we use "inequities" rather than "disparities" -- I have made those changes.
This is a timely idea that
This is a timely idea that would help organize MCH epidemiology activities within the department and across department. This might also serve as a hub for ACES and trauma-informed care both for children and women.
Thanks George. Agreed, I
Thanks George. Agreed, I think this would be a good place to center ACES work and also other develeopmental origins work. Perhaps most importantly to create a place where this expertise is certralized and shared.
I really like the idea of
I really like the idea of focusing on MNCH. Hope the MNCH Cooperative, led by Dilys Walker at IGHS, can be an active partner on this. And i like the PUMA acronym!
Thanks Jaime.. If this goes
Thanks Jaime.. If this goes forward we will need to connect with Dilys for sure.
I agree, this seems like a
I agree, this seems like a great group to overlap with (as someone part of it!), and like it would make sense given the new division of lifecourse epi!
This is a great idea! I would
This is a great idea! I would recommend also adding a component to talk with "clinical and academic programs, faculty, and trainees who often want to gain access to population-based data but have neither the time, resources, or expertise to secure and utilize them;" to explore what data, access, and supports they may want and need.
Thanks Brittany. Agreed, this
Thanks Brittany. Agreed, this should be a real dialogue with the other departments to explore what would be needed for them to support such an effort -- a key component for sustainability.
Agree that this is a great
Agree that this is a great idea. I'm wondering if there are specific opportunities for program or center grants through the NIH (or other funding sources) that might serve as sustainability targets. One the one hand, it would be nice to dream big, beyond the boundaries of what is fundable based on NIH priorities -- but identifying future opportunities might help facilitate very concrete discussions about necessary data sources and resources.
Totally agree. The idea is to
Totally agree. The idea is to create a home base for this kind of work so we can respond rapidly to these kind of big program and center grants that my be generated out of our department or others. I think sustainability requires a eye towards the NIH, foundations and clinical programs within UCSF -- maybe even UCOP if for example our reach went beyond just UCSF (dream big right). I think this can be done if the focus is not just on creating the accelerator rather on creating a structure that can accelerate work tackling critical health and developmental challenges that contain within them deep inequities and social determinants.
I think this is a great idea
I think this is a great idea too. But perhaps it will be useful to leave it open as "to investigate critical maternal and child health problems with translation of promising findings into clinical and public health settings" i.e is take out "using big datasets" from that sentence. Big datasets is a key approach, but it will be great to not only focus on that and allow for diversity in methodologies
Great point. I made this
Great point. I made this change.
Hi Laura, I believe that this
Hi Laura, I believe that this is another example, like Jaime's, of a broad research program that could benefit from the structure of a "platform study." It's a means of chipping away at the broad goal via a series of related studies, conducted in the sequence that builds knowledge while using participant resources efficiently. I'd be happy to discuss the specifics any time.