Advancing Native American Diversity in Aging Research through Undergraduate Education (Native American ADAR)

项目摘要 此申请响应PAR-17-290，寻求R25资金用于“推进本土化 美国通过本科教育进行老龄化研究的多样性。通过提供 年度课程和指导研究，以及在线虚拟教育和指导， 我们招募来自美洲原住民背景的学生，无论是城市学生， 和非城市，鼓励他们从事研究阿尔茨海默病的职业， 相关痴呆症（ADRD）和衰老机制，并帮助启动他们的科学生涯。 ADRD和老龄化领域继续迅速增长，老年人口也是如此，但 少数民族科学家领导的实验室太少，更不用说本土科学家了 美国的私家侦探，还有太少的新URM学员。R25由Gerald Schatten博士执导 （皮特），和劳拉尼德恩霍夫，医学博士，博士（明尼苏达州），谁加入大卫伯吉斯，博士（切罗基， 波士顿学院）;梅丽莎威尔斯，博士（博伊斯福特和Couchiching第一民族Anishinaabe，约翰 霍普金斯-杜卢斯）;保罗罗宾斯，博士（明尼苏达州）;和卡尔文西默利，博士（皮特）作为 执行委员会。该课程在明尼苏达州的衰老生物学研究所举办， 新陈代谢，由Laura Niedernhofer，MD，PhD和Paul Robbins，PhD指导。每日讲座， 主动学习，并对新兴概念进行扩展讨论，然后进行实验和小组讨论 演习和非正式研讨会举行了一个多星期（2021年8月15日至21日）。既要亲自动手， 为16名参与者提供关于ADRD根本原因的最新发现的在线培训， 治疗提出，特别注意致力于美洲原住民;衰老的生物学 也被考虑。之后，与每个受训者保持频繁的互动，以评估 课程并提供持续的指导。对部落历史的敏感性进行了分析， 具体目标是：一。提供ADRD的概念教育和研究培训， 衰老的生物学，与美洲原住民学员相关;二。支持辅导飞行员 研究，特别是涉及与土著居民有关的健康差异和多样性的挑战 美国人;三。鼓励学员和校友通过个人 辅导、指导会议和同行建议;四.讨论NIH法规要求 在部落主权的背景下;和五.评估，改善，并监测土著 美国阿达尔的优点和缺点，避免了不偏不倚，定量，独立 跟踪学员和校友成就的机制，以确保该计划是一个 明智的、具有成本效益的投资。在这样做的过程中，我们将加强和扩大的研究事业， 有前途的受训者，特别是美洲原住民，以帮助确保国家免疫局和国家卫生研究院的充分多样性。

PROJECT SUMMARY This application, responsive to PAR-17-290, seeks R25 funding for “Advancing Native American Diversity in Aging Research through Undergraduate Education.” By offering annual courses and mentored research—along with online virtual education and mentoring during this COVID-19 pandemic—we recruit students from Native American backgrounds, both urban and non-urban, to encourage them to pursue careers investigating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and aging mechanisms, and help to launch their scientific careers. The ADRD and aging fields continue to grow swiftly, as does the elderly population, yet there are too few laboratories led by under-represented minority (URM) scientists, let alone Native American PIs, and too few new URM trainees. This R25 is directed by Gerald Schatten, PhD (Pitt), and Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD (Minnesota), who join David Burgess, PhD (Cherokee, Boston College); Melissa Wells, PhD (Bois Forte & Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe, Johns Hopkins - Duluth); Paul Robbins, PhD (Minnesota); and Calvin Simerly, PhD (Pitt) as the Executive Committee. The course is held at Minnesota’s Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, directed by Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, and Paul Robbins, PhD. Daily lectures, active learning, and extended discussions on emerging concepts, followed by lab and group exercises and informal seminars are held over a week (August 15-21, 2021). Both hands-on and online training for 16 participants on recent discoveries regarding ADRD’s root causes and treatments is presented, with special attention devoted to Native Americans; the biology of aging is also considered. Frequent interactions are maintained with each trainee afterwards, to evaluate the course and provide ongoing mentoring. Conducted with sensitivity to tribal histories, five specific aims are proposed: I. Provide conceptual education and research training in ADRD and the Biology of Aging, with relevance for Native American trainees; II. Support mentored pilot research, especially involving challenges in health disparities and diversity related to Native Americans; III. Encourage trainees’ and alumni’s longer-term career planning through personal coaching, mentoring sessions, and peer-to-peer advice; IV. Discuss NIH regulatory requirements within the context of Tribal Sovereignty; and V. Evaluate, improve, and monitor the Native American ADAR’s strengths and avoid weaknesses with unbiased, quantitative, independent mechanisms which track trainees’ and alumni’s achievements to ensure that the program is a wise, cost-effective investment. In so doing, we will enhance and expand the research careers of promising trainees, especially Native Americans, to help ensure full diversity in the NIA and NIH.