The FIU Research Center in a Minority Institution (FIU-RCMI)

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FIU-RCMI Overall Abstract The Research Center in Minority Institutions at Miami-Dade's Florida International University (FIU-RCMI) is supported by the largest NIH Award in the history of FIU. Since 2017, the FIU-RCMI has been devoted to developing and sustaining a national, clinical and behavioral research program addressing health inequities and disparities primarily associated with HIV and substance use problems. We have provided extensive research support and training for early-stage investigators (ESIs), partnered with underserved communities to develop and conduct research, and capitalized on our community connections to develop supplementary large- scale research combatting health disparities. FIU, our emerging preeminent research program in health disparities, our ESIs, and our South Florida minority community partners all have benefitted from the NIMHD- funded FIU-RCMI. We are enthusiastic about submitting this competitive renewal proposal for our Center, which builds upon our earlier achievements, refines our approaches to ESI mentoring, community research partnership, and faculty recruitment, and broadens our scope. Our scientific focus areas will include basic biomedical research, behavioral research and population science, and clinical/health services research, with one R01-equivalent project in each area. During the initial funding cycle of the FIU-RCMI, we concentrated on behavioral and clinical research primarily regarding HIV and substance use problems. More recently, with supplemental research funding, the hiring of new investigators, and the growth of our pilot studies and community research enhancement programs, FIU-RCMI research concentrations have grown to include behavioral, clinical, population, and basic biomedical research regarding Alzheimer's Disease, COVID-19, app- based HIV prevention approaches, farmworker agrochemical exposure, and precision cancer therapeutics. Our competitive renewal proposal reflects this growth. The FIU-RCMI is well positioned relative to FIU's priorities, long-range goals and vision for health-related research. Moreover, FIU's Health Inequities and Disparities Program, of which the FIU-RCMI is a major component, has been designated by FIU as an Emerging Preeminent Program. Overarching goals of our proposed Center renewal include: 1. enhancing institutional research capacity, 2. increasing investigator success in obtaining competitive extramural research support, 3. fostering an environment conducive to career development for ESIs, 4. disseminating research generally and specifically for advancing minority health, and 5. establishing sustainable relationships with community-based organizations.