Evaluating a Research Training Program in Environmental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases in Georgia

Authors

Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Lela Sturua, Noncommunicable Diseases Department, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia.
Amiran Gamkrelidze, Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia.
Tina Beruchashvili, Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia.
Tinatin Manjavidze, Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia.
Givi Javashvili, International School of Public Health, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia.
Nino Kiladze, Department of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Health Promotion, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia.
Levan Baramidze, International School of Public Health, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia.
W Michael Caudle, Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-14-2025

Journal

International journal of environmental research and public health

Volume

22

Issue

9

DOI

10.3390/ijerph22091433

Keywords

environmental health; global health; global health training; low- and middle-income countries; mentorship; noncommunicable diseases

Abstract

The Clean Air Research and Education (CARE) program, launched in 2020, aims to enhance environmental health (EH) and noncommunicable disease (NCD) research capacity in the Republic of Georgia. This paper evaluates the first 4.5 years of CARE, summarizing fellows' activities and achievements to date and fellow and faculty reactions to CARE. In February 2025, CARE leadership anonymously surveyed fellows (100% response rate: n = 23/23; 4 Master's of Public Health [MPH], 19 PhD) and faculty (66.7%: n = 10/15; 6 Georgia-based, 4 US-based). Thesis/dissertation topics included tobacco (43.5%), air pollution and respiratory outcomes (each 21.7%), lead exposure and cancer-related and cardiovascular outcomes (each 13.0%), and others. Fellows leveraged CARE's financial support for research execution (78.3%), scientific conferences (34.8%), specific training (21.7%, n = 5/23), and/or publication fees (26.1%). Fellows indicated that the most valuable program aspects were opportunities for (1) building/expanding professional networks; (2) exposure to experts and training; and (3) instrumental support to pursue their PhD and conduct research. Fellows and faculty prioritized sustaining the following: structured mentor-mentee relationships; involvement of US-based mentors; support identifying research funding and preparing publications; and training in methods/data analysis. This study provides a model for evaluating other research training programs and highlights the important role such programs may play in developing the capacity to conduct relevant public health research in low- and middle-income countries.

APA Citation

Berg, Carla J.; Sturua, Lela; Gamkrelidze, Amiran; Beruchashvili, Tina; Manjavidze, Tinatin; Javashvili, Givi; Kiladze, Nino; Baramidze, Levan; and Caudle, W Michael, "Evaluating a Research Training Program in Environmental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases in Georgia" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7955.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7955

Department

Prevention and Community Health