PR COMPREHENSIVE CTR FOR HIV DISPARITIES:UPR:FACULTY DVMT & CLIN BEHV RES CORES

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This proposal established the operational and research infrastructure for a Comprehensive Center for the study of Health Disparities in the area of HIV/AIDS. It is unique and important because for the first time the three accredited Medical Schools in PR (UPR School of Medicine, UCC School of Medicine, and Ponce School of Medicine) are collaborating as partners in a common pursuit. We have added three new programs to this consortium: the UPR School of Dentistry, the UPR School of Public Health and the Ponce School of Medicine Program of Clinical Psychology. Some of the specific aims of the center are: (1) the enhancing of clinical and translational research through collaboration among these three schools, (2) to establish this tradition or "culture of collaboration" for the future, (3) to develop sustainable, replicable and culturally appropriate prevention and/or intervention research programs targeted to the Puerto Rican population to decrease the burden of disease, (4) to develop and validate a series of culturally appropriate instruments to measure diverse variables such as but not limited to: socio-demographic, HIV risk behaviors, co-morbidities, adherence, stigma, history of violence and abuse; and to make them available to interested investigators and health care providers, (6) to establish a Mentorship program for junior investigators with resources from both local and abroad (PR and US institutions) and to create the stimulating academic environment that will encourage students and fellows to pursue a career in health disparities research and in particular, HIV/AIDS research and (7) to enhance the opportunities for multidisciplinary research collaborations between the island institutions and those with a more established research programs in the US mainland. During a Phase I (years 1-2) the operational infrastructure of the center was established and one pilot project per institution was supported. During the Phase II (years 2-6), these pilot projects became research projects and new young investigators joined the Center through the establishment of developmental projects. A strong Core component of faculty development will assure the growth and productivity of the center's investigators. Other Core activities are a Data Center, a Core Laboratory, a CRC, a publications office with the assistance of a writer/editor, and the recruitment of 4 health disparities faculty and investigators.