Training in Health Research for Innovative Vital Healthcare (THRIVE) - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The goal of this T32 program, Training in Health Research for Innovative Vital Healthcare (THRIVE), is to address the national critical shortage of nurse scientists with the expertise needed to conduct robust research with populations with a variety of health challenges. The overall context of the training will occur in the research-intensive environment of the University of Arizona (U of A), the U of A Health Sciences (UAHS), and the highly-ranked U of A College of Nursing (CON) PhD program (#15 public and #23 in NIH funding ranking). It will be the only T32 at the U of A focused exclusively on pre-doctoral nurse trainees who wish to obtain PhDs. Given nurses intersect with multiple populations across the lifespan, we will train 8 pre-doctoral nurses (2 cohorts of 4 trainees each) whose research focuses on practical solutions for populations with different health challenges during the funding period. Each trainee will receive up to 4 years of institutional funding through T32 or CON funds, with evidence of trainee progress each year. The participating faculty will include 14 CON faculty and 9 interdisciplinary UA faculty. All primary mentors will have current NIH or equivalent funding. The larger mentor team (including other U of A or community mentors) will provide additional content or community expertise. Key training program components include: 1) using three research lenses from National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) encompassing key literature-derived theory/concepts; 2) an emphasis on rigorous research methods (e.g., community-engaged participatory research, adaptive designs, dissemination and implementation science, innovative data collection methods; randomized control trials); 3) knowledge to develop and implement stakeholder-informed interventions; and 4) integration of designs, approaches, and methods through robust interdisciplinary coursework and mentoring. The plan of study will provide coursework and multiple experiential learning activities (e.g., practical experiences in mentors labs, attending seminars and conferences, submitting F31 proposals). Upon completing the program, trainees will be able to: 1) apply the skills, knowledge, and professional networks they build during the program to conduct high-impact research with populations with a wide variety of health challenges; 2) develop, adapt, disseminate, and/or test primary and secondary prevention interventions that are sensitive to interpersonal, family, community, and/or healthcare systems; and 3) use advanced designs and approaches to conduct rigorous research to improve health outcomes. We will recruit and enroll nurse trainees across the United States using previously successful methods and admission processes. Both faculty mentors and trainees will receive mentor training to maximize the effectiveness of the mentor/mentee relationship. The CON will provide a nurturing environment and resources for all T32 trainees. The evaluation plan will include evaluation of trainees, mentors, and program outcomes through monthly monitoring evaluation by the MPDs, and quarterly evaluations by the Internal Executive Committee (IEC) and annually for the External Advisory Board (EAB). 1
