UTMB Women's Health Research Scholars Program

描述（由申请人提供）：为响应RFA-OD-09-006，德克萨斯大学医学分部（UTMB）提议更新我们成功的BIRCWH计划，以培养妇女健康方面的独立研究人员。该项目包括来自医学院、护理学院、卫生专业学院和生物医学科学学院的17名经验丰富的高级调查员作为导师。研究重点领域反映了UTMB强大的跨学科基础设施，包括：健康差距、青少年健康、传染病、生殖和老龄化，特别是与得不到充分服务的妇女的健康需求有关的领域。妇女健康跨学科研究中心为跨学科努力提供论坛并管理该方案。候选人池由包括当地部门，中心和T32项目在内的多层管道提供，其次是来自德克萨斯大学系统校园指定的西班牙裔服务机构的申请人。另外，通过与历史上著名的黑人学院和大学进行广告和征求，争取多样化申请者的努力已扩大到全国一级。在1(R)周期的资助中，我们培训了10位学者，他们获得了包括NIH在内的私人和联邦赞助商的12个奖项。在我们2个周期的资助中，我们的项目将继续将指导的研究经验作为学者量身定制的职业发展计划的核心。多种正式和非正式场所为发展技能和协作的跨学科网络提供了充足的机会。学者也可以获得临床科学硕士或博士学位。此外，我们将增加一个资源实验室，在方法开发和统计指导方面提供个人协助。我们提议的续约得到了执行副校长和教务长保证的重大机构承诺的支持。更新将进一步加强UTMB的妇女健康研究，并将确保我们更多的学者在影响妇女一生的许多健康领域成为独立支持的调查人员。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In response to RFA-OD-09-006, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) proposes a renewal of our successful BIRCWH Program to develop independent researchers in women's health. The Program includes 17 experienced senior investigators as Mentors from Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions, and Biomedical Sciences. Research focus areas reflect the strong interdisciplinary infrastructure at UTMB and include: Health Disparities, Adolescent Health, Infectious Disease, Reproduction, and Aging, especially as related to the health needs of underserved women. The Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health provides forums for interdisciplinary endeavors and administers the Program. The Candidate Pool is fed by a multilevel pipeline including local departments, centers, and T32 programs, followed by applicants from UT System campuses designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. Additional efforts to obtain diverse applicants extend to the national level through advertisements and solicitations made with leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities. During the 1(R)' cycle of funding, we trained 10 Scholars who received 12 awards from private and federal sponsors, including NIH. For our 2"^* cycle of funding, our Program will continue to use the mentored research experience as the core of Scholars' tailored career development plans. Multiple formal and informal venues provide ample opportunities for developing skills and collaborative interdisciplinary networks. Scholars may also obtain a MS or PhD in Clinical Science. In addition, we will add a Resource Laboratory for individual assistance with methods development and statistical guidance. Our proposed renewal is supported by a significant institutional commitment assured by the Executive Vice President & Provost. A renewal will further strengthen women's health research at UTMB and will ensure that more of our Scholars become independently supported investigators in the many areas of health that affect women over the lifespan. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The UTMB BIRCWH Program recruits, trains, and retains early career investigators from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds in a variety of disciplines related to women's health. The Program provides interdisciplinary mentored research experiences to promote the BIRCWH Scholars' involvement in investigations aimed at improving health care and health of women across the lifespan.