Educational Pathways to increase Diversity in Genomics (EDGE) at UNC Chapel Hill

摘要 美国基因组工作人员缺乏多样性是一个关键的多方面问题，突出了 代表不足的人在获得培训、就业和医疗保健方面的差距。我们建议 北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校(UNC EDGE)增加基因组学多样性的教育途径帮助解决这一问题 通过制定和实施新的可持续的基因组学本科培训计划来解决这一问题。这个 北卡罗来纳大学EDGE的主要目标是(1)让早期职业生涯中的一年级和二年级学生接触到广泛的职业 可用于基础基因组科学、基因组医学和基因组学与社会；(2)提供基础 做出明智的职业决策所需的研究技能和知识基础；以及(3)帮助学生发展 一个支持性的多层次社区指导框架，指导他们的职业轨迹。我们的中心目标 为学生提供工具、知识和支持，以建立自我效能感和明智的决策 这是在基因组学职业生涯中可持续发展所必需的。北卡罗来纳州(北卡罗来纳州)的种族比例很高 多样性[1010万人，约33%来自代表性不足的社区]，农村地区占很大比例 (80%)，代表人数不足的群体的高等教育完成率较低(14%-20%)，而且正在上升 健康和医疗保健方面的差距。北卡罗来纳州也是一家蓬勃发展的生物技术企业和大学的所在地 位于北卡罗来纳州的教堂山分校，是基因组研究和精密医学领域的全球领导者。两者都有 实体中来自代表不足、服务不足和处境不利的人的比例创历史新低 从事基因组学工作的背景。在这个为期5年的项目中，北卡罗来纳大学的EDGE将使用定制的 弥合北卡罗来纳大学恒星基因组研究环境与代表性不足之间差距的课程 (UR)来自周边北卡罗来纳州社区的本科生，以及美国各地的学生。我们的初选 长期效果的目标是增加这些选择并稳定的UR学生的数量 留任于基因组学研究生涯。这将增加在学术界获得有利可图的工作机会的机会 生物技术，并增加研究和医疗保健领域的包容性和创新性。此外，增加 训练有素、代表性不足的专业人员进入基因组工作队伍，使他们有机会成为 在影响他们社区的研究和医疗决策中的利益相关者；我们希望这一结果将 最终有助于改善医疗保健方面的差距，因为基因组学在精确度方面变得更加重要 医学。

ABSTRACT The lack of diversity in the United States genomics workforce is a critical multifaceted issue that highlights disparities for underrepresented people in access to training, job acquisition, and healthcare. We propose Educational Pathways to increase Diversity in Genomics at UNC Chapel Hill (UNC EDGE) to help address this problem by developing and implementing a new sustainable undergraduate training program in genomics. The primary aims for UNC EDGE are to (1) expose early career freshmen and sophomores to the breadth of careers available in basic genome sciences, genomic medicine, and genomics and society; (2) provide the foundational research skills & knowledgebase required to make an informed career decision; and (3) help students develop a supportive multi-tiered community mentoring framework to guide their career trajectory. Our central objective is to provide students with the tools, knowledge, and support to build self-efficacy and informed decision making required for sustainable advancement in a career in genomics. North Carolina (NC) has a high level of ethnic diversity [10.1 million people, ~33% from underrepresented communities], a large proportion of rural regions (80%), a low rate of completion of higher education among underrepresented groups (14-20%), and increasing disparities in health and healthcare. NC is also home to a burgeoning biotechnology enterprise and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), a global leader in genomics research and Precision Medicine. Both entities have historically low proportions of people from underrepresented, underserved, and disadvantaged backgrounds working in genomics. Over the course of this 5-year project, UNC EDGE will use a tailored curriculum to bridge the gap between the stellar genomics research environment at UNC and underrepresented (UR) undergrads from surrounding NC communities, as well as students across the United States. Our primary objective for long-term outcomes is to increase the number of these UR students that choose and are stably retained in a genomics research career. This will increase access to lucrative job opportunities in academia and biotechnology, and increase inclusion and innovation in research & healthcare. In addition, increasing entry of well-trained underrepresented professionals into the genomics workforce gives them the opportunity to become stakeholders in the research and healthcare decisions that affect their community; an outcome that we hope will ultimately help improve disparities in healthcare as genomics becomes a greater consideration in Precision Medicine.