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Health Disparities Research Training Program

The goals of this Education/Training Program are to provide scholars with: 1) training in the basic tools of clinical and outcomes research (including biostatistics, epidemiology, bioethics, behavioral interventions, health services, policy research, cultural competency, equity, and disparity assessment, and quality-of-care measurement and improvement, as well as their applicability to minority aging research) and 2) training in bioethics and fundamental issues, principles, attitudes, and practices underlying just and equitable research that involves culturally diverse and underserved populations.

The Education/Training Program will target junior to mid-level faculty members (Associate Professors and below) who have not had an R01 from NIH and who are committed to academic careers in minority aging. More senior faculty, i.e. Associate Professors or Professors who have had R01 funding in another area of scientific endeavor, but who want to redirect their research to minority aging, may also want to participate in some aspects of the program, particularly if their careers have focused on education, service, or administration, and they have not had any research training.

The year-long Education/Training Program will consist of four components:

1. online video courses in biostatistics and epidemiology;
2. biweekly video conferences and lectures (see list of topics below);
3. a one-¬day workshop on bioethics and cross-cultural issues at Tuskegee University; and
4. a one-week intensive session with grant writing and in-depth critique of research proposals. Individualized education/training programs will be tailored to the needs and the level of the learner and may be comprised of any combination of these components.

Workshop on Bioethics and Cross-Cultural Issues: A one-day workshop on bioethics and cross-cultural issues will be offered through the MHRC Bioethics Core through its established collaboration with the Tuskegee University Bioethics in Research Center. The goals of the Bioethics Workshop are: 1) to raise the level of awareness of participants about bioethics and research with minority communities; and 2) to increase participants' understanding of important factors related to mentoring across difference.

One-Week Intensive Seminar on Grant Writing: A one-week intensive seminar on grant writing will be offered through the Educationffraining Program. This seminar will consist of lectures, guided writing experiences, and expert feedback, including an in-depth critique of research proposals generated by participants.

Mentoring Programs

In addition to the above Training/Education components, the Deep South RCMAR will offer mentored research training through three separate mechanisms: (1) the RCMAR Mentoring Program (2) the RCMAR Scholars Program and (3) the RCMAR Pilot Grant Program.

RCMAR Scholars Program: Each year, the Training Committee (consisting of Drs. Ball, Scarinci, and Burgio) will select three faculty applicants to participate in the RCMAR Scholar Program. These three scholars will receive 10% salary support to ensure that they have protected time to participate consistently in the Education/Training Program and the Mentoring Program. This is the most intensive of the RCMAR programs, in that scholars will be required to participate in all components of the Education/ Training Program, unless the mentor and Training Committee recommend an appropriate alternative activity. Some scholars may use their time in the program to pursue education, training, and mentoring in the development of a proposal for the Pilot Grant Program. Others may benefit from pursuing a pilot grant award first and subsequently participating in the Scholars Program to guide them through the process of applying for extramural funding. Scholars will be expected to present their research experience and findings at an appropriate venue (e.g., weekly Center for Aging Scientific

Pilot Grant Program: Three one-year, $25,000 pilot grants will be awarded by the Deep South RCMAR each year. The purpose of the Pilot Grant Program is to support a mentored research experience for eligible faculty to obtain preliminary data to launch future applications for extramural funding in the area of minority aging.