Wednesday, April 24, 2024
4/24/2024
Abstract A diverse U.S. biomedical research workforce is essential for developing innovation in basic, translational and clinical research and healthcare and is necessary for improving the nation’s health. The NIH has identified key issues contributing to the disproportionate representation of underrepresented individuals in the biomedical workforce, including lack of effective mentoring, guidance in research and career development, and access to professional networks. The overall goal of the UC San Diego Future Faculty of Cardiovascular Sciences (FOCUS) Program is to establish long-term effective mentorship and training of early career faculty and transitioning postdocs from underrepresented backgrounds in critical academic skills to enhance research success and in obtaining independent NIH or equivalent funding. The program will be led by two Principal Investigators (PIs) and two co-Investigators (co-Is). The PIs/co-Is have a long history of mentoring and training early career faculty and success in designing, implementing and directing career development and mentoring programs specifically for underrepresented mentees. All PIs/co-Is have successfully led extramurally funded training programs; three of the four PIs/co-Is are actively engaged in NIH-sponsored cardiovascular research and two PIs/co-Is are from underrepresented backgrounds. The goal and objectives of the UCSD FOCUS Program are to use evidence-based strategies and asset models to enhance the success of underrepresented early career faculty in developing competitive research programs and obtaining independent extramural research funding. The proposed program for each of the four cohorts entering FOCUS will meet the objectives by providing effective mentorship and training in areas that are unique challenges for early career researchers, especially from underrepresented backgrounds. We hypothesize that early career faculty participants immersed in the UCSD FOCUS Program will obtain strong mentorship, academic career development and leadership skills, as well as excellent guidance in grantsmanship and research development, that will improve their success in obtaining NIH or equivalent funding. We propose three Specific Aims. Aim 1) To continue to recruit UR early career faculty and transitioning postdoctoral fellows who have cardiovascular scientific expertise aligned with those of our research mentors, carefully selected based on their research and mentorship excellence. Aim 2) To continue to use evidence-based strategies to enhance professional development and effective mentorship of the early career faculty participants. Aim 3) To continue to promote research self-efficacy by immersing participants in effective strategies to: a) develop robust and innovative research programs, b) acquire improved skills in writing effective grant proposals and manuscripts, and c) understand the process and importance of submitting, revising and reviewing journal articles and grants. Together the aims proposed in the renewal of the UCSD FOCUS Program will continue to increase underrepresented faculty participants’ ability to conduct innovative research, obtain independent NIH or equivalent funding, and attain academic success.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
