Promoting Under-Representative Minorities in Pulmonary and Sleep Research (PURPOSE) - PROJECT SUMMARY This new T32 application proposes a research training program for under-represented physician scientists in the areas of pulmonary and sleep disorders medicine at the University of Miami (UM), Miller School of Medicine. The PURPoSe (Promoting Under-Represented Minorities in Pulmonary and Sleep Research) training program will be based in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at UM and will leverage the faculty from various departments across the institution. The primary goal is to provide a rigorous and fertile environment of training for underrepresented post-doctoral fellows and foster their development into academic physician- scientists. The T32 program will offer an exceptional training platform in basic, translational, and health services research to develop independent, successful, high-impact physician researchers in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine. Three areas of scientific focus will be available to the trainees: Track A will focus on the etiology, risk, and outcomes related to obstructive airways disease (i.e., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Track B will offer training in the biology, impact, and health-care disparities in lung cancer/smoking cessation; and Track C will focus on improving outcomes related to obstructive sleep apnea/sleep disorders in the underserved. Trainees will select a primary track of emphasis. The goals of this T32 grant will be achieved via mentored, didactic, and experiential exposures leveraging all UM affiliates including the UM-Health System, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Jackson Health System, and the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide an unparalleled opportunity to address key priorities in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine. The program will be supported by 21 mentors who have grants totaling $11.7 in annual funding. Mentors include 10 MDs, 9 PhDs and 2 MD/PhDs across several departments. Collectively, mentors have outstanding expertise in obstructive lung disease epidemiology and outcomes, airway biology, programs for early screening and basic mechanisms of lung cancer, and sleep disorders medicine. Training (e.g., didactics, seminars, online modules) has been aligned with the competencies to be gained (e.g., epidemiology, clinical research methods, biostatistics, ethical conduct of research, and grant writing) and will capitalizes on the institutional access to specific subgroups (e.g., race/ethnicity, sexual/gender identity) and expertise in applied methods (e.g., basic science, clinical/translational research, dissemination/implementation science, health and disparities research). This T32 training program will support two postdoctoral fellows per year. Applicants will be expected to have a MDs who are concurrently enrolled in the Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine post- doctoral fellowship. Individual development plans (IDPs) will be created for trainees to facilitate oversight by mentors. Internal and External Advisory Boards, and Diversity and Inclusion, and Arbitration committees will provide ongoing evaluation and feedback to ensure that the goals of T32 program are effectivelymet.
