Research Coordinating Center to Reduce Disparities in Multiple Chronic Diseases (RCC RD-MCD) - SUMMARY Significant disparities in prevention, treatment, and management of multiple chronic diseases exist along intersecting racial, cultural, socio-economic, and vulnerable population contextual lines; community engagement and culturally informed multilevel approaches are required to effectively reduce these disparities. The UCSF Research Coordinating Center will leverage and pivot our significant expertise, experience, and capacity in community-engaged research, disparities research, program implementation experience with underserved and vulnerable populations, data science, and major chronic diseases to serve and support a nationwide research coordinating and technical assistance center. The Specific Aims of the project are to: 1) Develop the NIMHD RD-MCD Research Consortium and its Oversight Mechanisms: through the Organizational and Management Unit’s convening, secure communication, internal and external resource sharing, standardization, progress, site, and study monitoring, and dissemination functions via a 508- compliant consortium website in cooperation with program officials, representative Steering Committee, networked Community Advisory Boards, and an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). 2) Implement RD-MCD Consortium-wide Common Data Element Development, Collection, Integration, Curation, Analysis, and Sharing using existing well-developed national data coordinating and collection center resources and expertise forming a Research Coordination & Data Management (RCDM) Unit providing a secure and accessible data warehouse hub for RD-MCD Consortium data, and technical assist- ance and guidance on: implementing multiple data standards and cross-study instruments including PhenX toolkit collections (e.g. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)); and up-to-date RD-MCD information, tools, and resources via secured investigator-facing and community-facing website resource pages. 3) Establish a Multiple Chronic Diseases Disparities (MCD) Research Educational Development Network: facilitated by the Skills Development Unit combining scientific, networking, and skills building expertise across the P50 MCD research consortium to implement and maintain diverse development opportunities for academic researchers, minority-serving institutions, health workers, and other community partners. The RCC will deliver and coordinate: a) monthly webinars, b) yearly skills development workshops, c) access to mentors across the MCD consortium and the NIH National Research Mentoring Network, and d) track the impact of the RCC and Center’s development activities. 4) Facilitate and Monitor Vibrant Community-Engaged Research among NIMHD RD-MCD P50 Research Consortium members and community partners through a Community Engagement (CE) Unit providing access to underserved/vulnerable population-specific Technical Assistance (TA) teams, structural and organizational support for a Community of Practice, and collaborative Scientific Working Groups.
