Our pathway programs support postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty who participate in our Health Equity Research Education Program (HEREP), formerly called the Health Disparities Research Education Program (HDREP). Scholars are mentored in research training and career development and take courses on bioethics, biostatistics, epidemiology, and minority aging. There is an intensive grant writing retreat during which each participant presents a grant proposal that may be submitted to an external funding agency, and receives critical feedback to increase fundability. 

Program Dates: October 2023 - September 2024
Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Portions of the training will include web-based training courses and independent grant development with a mentor at times scheduled by the scholar/mentor dyads. In addition, scholars will be required to participate in scheduled video conference faculty development group discussions. The video conference format allows trainees to participate from their home institutions. Two Bioethics Workshops and the Grant Writing Retreat may require travel.

Through participation in faculty development discussions and workshops, scholars will be able to enhance their knowledge and scientific skills, as well as gain expertise in health equity/disparities research. Participants in these activities will become stronger candidates for grant funding as independent investigators.

A final product of an R03 (or equivalent) grant proposal may be written and submitted by each scholar during the training period or shortly after. The scholars will also focus on secondary data analysis and development of manuscripts for publication, in addition to the research training faculty development discussions.

Scholars who complete the program requirements may be eligible to apply for pilot funding to start their project.

Program Objectives:

1. Develop independent researchers in health equity/disparities research through individualized mentored training.
2. Provide instruction in scientific research methodology and design.
3. Provide training on the topic of health disparities and innovative approaches to reduce them.
4. Teach scientific writing and grant preparation skills to produce a grant submission to an external agency.

Program Sponsorship:

The program is sponsored by grants from the NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA) and NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Creighton University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and coordinated by the UAB MHERC.

Interested early stage investigators should apply.

All candidates must submit:

• An application
• CV
• Statement of Intent
• Letter of Support (LOS)
  
  • The letter of support should be from a supervising senior faculty person, Director, Dean, or Chair
  • The LOS should address support of research career and release time to participate in HEREP

Please have all materials ready to upload in separate Adobe PDF files and submit at one time.

Download the FlyerOpens an external link.

Program Dates: October 2023 - September 2024

Application Deadline:  Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Apply on MHERC ConnectOpens an external link.

For best results, access MHERC Connect through Internet Explorer. Google Chrome and Safari do not work with this system—your application will NOT be received. Please use short file names with no punctuation for upload submissions.

You should receive immediate confirmation that your application was uploaded successfully. If you do not, please check your spam folder, as it can get flagged by different email service providers. If you still do not have one, email annsmith@uab.edu as soon as possible.

“The Health Disparities Research Training Program (HDRTP) was a great opportunity to connect with nationally-renowned senior scientists and emerging investigators who are doing very important health disparities research. In addition to the training and networking opportunities provided by the program, HDRTP also helped me to be focused and highly productive by hosting retreats for scholars to focus on manuscript and grant preparation. HDRTP has definitely helped to prepare me for a successful career in health disparities research.“

— Tiffany L. Carson, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Preventive Medicine and 2013 Health Disparities Research Training Program Alumna