Research Training/Education Core

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The Research Education/ Training Core (RET) of the proposed P20 Center of Excellence is designed to increase (a) the number of researchers and professionals from minority and medically underserved populations trained in behavioral research and (b) increase the quality of the training provided to behavioral researchers conducting investigations on health disparities in HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. The specific aims include: (1) to develop a cadre of doctoral students at Florida International University (FIU) who will conduct behavioral research on the nature and extent ofthe HIV/AIDS and substance abuse epidemics among the Latino population in the United States (eight doctoral students - four students every two years); (2) to support the career development of four postdoctoral scholars at FIU conducting behavioral research on health disparities in HIV/AIDS and substance abuse during the proposed Center grant (two postdoctoral scholars every two years); and 3) to provide training to four community gatekeepers on the conduct of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse research in Latino populations and to develop their general research skills (two community gatekeepers in Year 1; two gatekeepers in Year 3). FIU is the largest four-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the continental United States. FIU awards more bachelor's and master's degrees to Latinos than any other university in the continental United States and ranks eighth in the number of doctoral degrees awarded. It is also dedicated to the education of other minorities. Since a majority of the students and postdoctoral researchers who will receive training from the proposed C-SALUD at FIU will come from ethnic/racial minority backgrounds, they are likely to have greater motivation and long-term interest in understanding health disparities that affect their communities. These students and researchers will have a personal interest in contributing positively to the scientific understanding of health disparity issues and in developing effective culturally-relevant prevention and treatment programs addressing HIV/AIDS and substance abuse in Latinos and other racial/ethnic populations.