Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
ABSTRACT Significant disparities exist in health outcomes for rural and Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) Americans. A contributing cause to these outcomes is the lack of diversity in translational researchers. To enhance the translational science workforce, we have developed a summer research experience for underrepresented undergraduate scholars who have previously completed a short program exposing them to healthcare careers. Because the University of Iowa has a wide variety of research occurring across the translational spectrum, extensive resources, and a unique role as the only academic medical center in a rural state, we provide an ideal location for this training. The goals of our program are to provide 1) enhanced short- term training in translational science, 2) mentoring of underrepresented future translational scientists, and 3) focused education sessions related to clinical and translational science. To accomplish these goals, our experiential educational opportunity for Beginning and Early Stage Translational (BEST) Researchers will embed students in teams conducting translational research. Additionally, scholars will also participate in educational experiences to provide them with foundational tools to progress to successful careers in translational science. This will include seminars and activities related to bioethics, receiving mentorship, wellness and resiliency, communication skills, advocacy for self-and others, application and interview tips, responsible conduct of research, data management and analysis, and community participatory research. We will utilize the Stanton-Salazar Social Capital Framework for helping scholars build strong relationships with resources and support to advance them in the educational system. Further, our educational sessions will be based on the backward curriculum design framework. This framework ensures that our goals for each session are clearly delineated, and the activities are designed to support these goals. The Evaluation Program in the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa will provide oversight that we are achieving our goals and have continuous quality improvement. We will also evaluate the short and long-term progress of the program’s scholars across several domains including improved domain skills, continued participation in research, admission to graduate and professional programs, and submission and acceptance of abstracts and manuscripts. In summary, there will be significant value in our program, and it will result in improving diversity in the next generation of translational researchers which will ultimately contribute to our efforts to reduce health disparities for rural and BIPOC populations.
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).