Diversifying the Autism Research Workforce Conference - PROJECT SUMMARY Workforce diversity is an urgent priority for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, there are few initiatives to diversify the autism research workforce. The problem of workforce diversity in research has far- reaching clinical implications. A workforce that represents the community that it serves can address cultural beliefs and practices, as well as stigma, that may impact autism diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately lead to better quality of care. Given the relation between workforce diversity and research/clinical outcomes, the objective of this proposal, “Building a Diverse Workforce in Autism Research: From Community Partnerships to Policy” is to increase diversity in the autism research workforce by convening a conference focused on career advancement for individuals who are underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce. This conference was previously hosted in 2023 with enormous success, and this will be the second year of this conference in 2024. We propose three specific aims focused on providing networking opportunities, didactic and applied training activities, and research experiences. The proposed conference is relevant to the scientific mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) because it will provide strategic and targeted career advancement opportunities (short-term goal) that will pave the way for the next generation of researchers underrepresented in biomedical research (long-term goal). Through creativity and innovation, diversity in the workforce has the potential to transform the treatment of autism, by increasing access to evidence-based treatments, fostering high-quality care, and improving clinical outcomes, particularly for underrepresented communities. The objective of this conference is aligned with NIMH’s strategic plan (Goal 4) to strengthen the public health impact of research by linking junior and senior investigators on a wide range topics, from community partnerships to policy. Our proposal is innovative because we will launch the first conference designed to support underrepresented students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty in biomedical research across the translational pipeline.
